BH Pride activists rally at Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo over anti-LGBTIQ+ crackdown

In an official statement, organisers warned of a severe assault on civil society, human rights, and freedom of association. The protest follows nationwide raids under Operation "Ailem Güvende" ("My Family is Safe"), launched on 12 and 13 September across at least 15 provinces. According to the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the crackdown encompasses 162 individuals, nine associations, and 13 businesses. Authorities maintain that the investigations involve offences such as "obscenity", prostitution, drug possession, and organised crime.

Human rights organisations contend that the operation primarily targets LGBTIQ+ advocacy groups and organisations supporting people living with HIV. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that police detained at least 112 people between 12 and 14 September, with 82 remanded in custody by court decisions, including at least 24 LGBTIQ+ activists, organisation leaders, and a journalist.

Notable targets include Kaos GL, a prominent LGBTIQ+ rights organisation, where 14 board members were arrested in Ankara, seven of whom were subsequently remanded in custody on charges including "obscenity". HRW noted that social media posts depicting men kissing were cited as evidence. In another instance, journalist Tuğba Tekerek was detained based solely on a 2024 article regarding LGBTIQ+ rights in Georgia.

Concurrently, internet restrictions have intensified. Amnesty International reported that over 180 social media accounts belonging to LGBTIQ+ groups, journalists, and rights organisations, including Amnesty International’s Turkish branch, have been blocked alongside several websites. Furthermore, HRW stated that police arrested over 100 demonstrators protesting outside an Istanbul courthouse on 15 September, holding them for over 24 hours before release.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek linked the operation to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's "Decade of Family and Population 2026–2035" initiative, claiming the measures aim to protect families and public order. Rights monitors argue that state rhetoric around family protection is being weaponised to criminalise legitimate civic action.

Demanding the immediate release of those detained for human rights work, BH Pride declared: "We will not remain silent while human rights are criminalised in our region."