Turkey detains dozens after sweeping raids targeting LGBTQ groups

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities have detained at least 47 people following a series of raids on the offices of LGBTQ associations in a probe into prostitution and obscenity, prosecutors ⁠said.

The crackdown is part of a campaign that the government says is aimed at protecting family values.

The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said operations were carried out over the weekend across 12 provinces against 38 suspects, and 26 of them were detained with ⁠authorities seizing drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and ​a ⁠firearm.

In a separate statement, the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office said a further 21 people had been detained as part of an investigation into ⁠the LGBTQ association Kaos GL and five people were still being sought.

Kaos ​GL ⁠said at least 50 activists had ‌been detained, including more than 10 who were taken in police raids on their homes.

In addition, it said authorities blocked access to dozens of websites and ‌social media accounts linked to LGBTQ organisations, activists and ‌rights advocates.

Dubbed “My Family is Safe”, the government’s crackdown comes as President Tayyip Erdogan promotes a “Decade of Family and Population”, an initiative designed to tackle falling birth rates and an ageing demographic.

Rights groups ⁠have accused…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business