“I am concerned by reports of a series arrests, raids and the blocking of websites and social media accounts targeting LGBTI civil society and human rights defenders across Türkiye”, said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty.

In a public statement, the Minister of Justice, announced that the operation, referred to as “My Family is Safe”, is being conducted against 162 individuals, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutors’ Offices in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydın and Mersin. The Minister also cited investigations into funding received by LGBTI organisations from foreign and public sources. 

In my recent memorandum on Türkiye, I raised concerns about restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, expression, and association for LGBTI people and their organisations. LGBTI organisations and human rights defenders in Türkiye carry out human rights work. Advocacy for equality and non-discrimination is protected expression and association under the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Court of Human Rights has made it clear that mere references to 'family values' or 'protection of children' cannot serve as legal justification for human rights restrictions.

I am further concerned by reports that defence lawyers’ access to investigation files has been restricted and that suspects are being required to retain separate lawyers without concrete or individualised evidence of a conflict of interest. Such measures may undermine effective access to legal assistance and impair the right to a fair trial.

Any restriction on civil society activity in a democratic society must have a clear legal basis, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate. Criminal investigations or detentions must be based on individualised evidence of a recognised criminal offence, not on a person’s identity, association, advocacy, peaceful activism, or receipt of lawful funding.

I call on the Turkish authorities to release anyone detained for engaging in human rights or civil society work; to guarantee protection of due process, including effective access to legal assistance, judicial review and protection from ill-treatment; and to ensure restrictions and criminal proceedings respect the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and the presumption of innocence.

I will continue to monitor the situation and raise these issues with the Turkish authorities.”