The closure of Lambda Istanbul, which was established in 1993, marks a severe escalation in state pressure against advocacy networks. Under an ongoing operation titled "My Family is Safe," authorities have targeted multiple organizations and pursued legal penalties against their leadership. The government has already detained hundreds of individuals, placed over 80 people under formal arrest, and targeted groups like Hevi LGBTI+ and Kaos GL. Concurrently, officials have blocked hundreds of websites, including platforms belonging to independent media outlets and Amnesty International Turkey.
Key points
The Turkish government is actively utilizing administrative closures and criminal charges…: The Turkish government is actively utilizing administrative closures and criminal charges to dismantle civil society organizations.
State initiatives frame sexual minority groups as explicit threats to traditional family…: State initiatives frame sexual minority groups as explicit threats to traditional family structures to justify broader crackdowns.
Extensive censorship measures are being deployed against independent media, human rights…: Extensive censorship measures are being deployed against independent media, human rights associations, and related digital domains.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Authorities in Turkey have closed the office of the country's oldest LGBTQ+ organisation, claiming it is an "unauthorised social club".
The Istanbul Governor’s Office sealed the office of Lambda Istanbul LGBTI+ Solidarity Association on Wednesday, as a crackdown continues across the country targeting LGBTQ+ groups.
In a statement, Lambda Istanbul said the move was a further attempt to "isolate LGBTI+ individuals, deprive them of their living spaces, and restrict their freedom to organise".
Lambda Istanbul was founded in 1993 out of an attempt by LGBTQ+ activists to stage the city's first Pride parade. Its office was opened in 2002 and it was formally registered as an association in 2006.
"We do not accept the attempt to frame our association’s activities – which we have conducted openly, transparently, and in compliance with official records for years – as the 'operation of an unauthorised social club', nor do we accept the encroachment upon our living spaces!" the group said in its statement.
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