Thursday, September 17, 2026

Turkey's LGBTQ+ Crackdown – "Everything Can Go Darker and Darker" | DW News

Sep 17, 2026 | More than 200 people have been detained in Turkey in a widening crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community. At least 60 have now been jailed, according to a legal rights group. Police raided bars, LGBTQ+ organizations and activists' homes across 15 provinces – and protests against the crackdown have also been met with mass arrests. The government says it is protecting children and the family. LGBTQ+ activists say they are being targeted simply for who they are. So what is happening in Turkey and how far could it go?