Over 150 Arrested in Istanbul Protests Against LGBTQ+ Crackdown

WHO:

CNN - Turkish authorities, LGBTQ+ groups, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek.

WHAT:

CNN - Turkish authorities detained at least 150 people during a protest against recent detentions targeting LGBTQ+ groups.

CNN - A Turkish court jailed 16 people pending trial in the western province of Izmir as part of the operation against LGBTQ+ groups.

CNN - Authorities detained at least 26 people in Istanbul and 21 in Ankara over the weekend.

CNN - The operation involved 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses across 15 provinces.

WHERE:

CNN - The protest occurred outside Istanbul’s Caglayan courthouse.

CNN - Raids were conducted in multiple provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Aydin, and Mersin.

WHEN:

CNN - The detentions occurred on a Tuesday.

CNN - A Turkish court jailed 16 people on a Monday.

WHY:

CNN - The government claims the operation, dubbed “My Family is Safe,” is aimed at protecting children and family values.

CNN - Rights groups and opposition figures describe the actions as a widening campaign against the LGBTQ+ community.

HOW:

CNN - Police intervened to prevent demonstrators from making a press statement outside the courthouse.

CNN - Authorities conducted raids on association offices, blocked websites, and jailed suspects linked to LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 01:58 UTC)

Turkish authorities have detained at least 150 people during a protest against recent detentions targeting LGBTQ+ groups, with raids conducted across multiple provinces including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. A Turkish court has jailed 16 individuals pending trial as part of this operation, which involves 162 suspects and has been labeled “My Family is Safe” by the government, who claims it aims to protect children and family values. However, rights groups and opposition figures argue that these actions represent a growing campaign against the LGBTQ+ community, as police intervened to prevent demonstrators from making a press statement outside the courthouse.