Turkey police detain dozens over pro-LGBTQ Istanbul rally

Turkish police on Tuesday detained dozens protesting against a nationwide LGBTQ crackdown that the government says is intended to protect traditional family values, AFP journalists at the scene reported.

The protesters had gathered outside Istanbul's main Caglayan courthouse under heavy police surveillance, chanting "Long live the struggle for freedom!", "Free those detained immediately!" and "Despite hatred, long live life!"

The demonstration followed sweeping police raids in several cities including Istanbul and the capital Ankara at the weekend in which police arrested dozens of people as part of what the government says is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "Decade of the Family" initiative.

Turkey's LGBTQ community has increasingly come under pressure from the authorities, with Erdogan describing it as a "deviant movement" of "perverts".

In Istanbul, police surrounded the protesters and repeatedly warned them over a loudspeaker that the gathering was "illegal".

Before the group, which unfurled a banner reading "Being LGBTQ is not a crime", could issue a statement, police moved in and detained them, AFP journalists said.

"I am very angry, frustrated and disappointed. I have been following cases concerning justice in Turkey for a very long time, and what we are seeing now is deeply disturbing," a 44-year-old protester, who identified herself only as Zeynep for fear of repercussions, told AFP.

"These people have not committed any crime simply by being who they are, or by defending their own or other people's human rights," she said.

"I think as a society we are very tired, very sad and very angry. We keep seeing innocent people being targeted while people accused of much more serious crimes are not held accountable."

Two journalists, one working for the BirGun daily and the other for Germany's ARD television, were among those detained while covering the rally, the Turkish Journalists' Union said.

"We do not accept the criminalisation of journalism," it said on X.

Trade unions, democracy groups, women's organisations, feminists and other opposition groups joined the call for the Istanbul rally, feminist activist Feride Eralp told AFP.

"We gathered outside the Caglayan courthouse to denounce what is unlawful, unjust and, in fact, a hate campaign, and to make clear that neither LGBTQ organisations nor LGBTQ individuals can be treated as criminals," she said.

"But the authorities blocked the gathering and forcibly detained our friends."

AFP journalists saw police prevent even lone protesters from unfurling banners.

The pro-LGBTQ protests were triggered by the arrest of dozens of people on Sunday in gay bars and at the homes of LGBTQ activists on charges including "obscenity", "assisting prostitution" and having "financial links abroad".

Authorities have also blocked social media accounts belonging to human rights defenders and media outlets as part of operations dubbed "My Family Is Safe."

The European Union on Monday voiced concern over the arrests and urged Ankara to ensure respect for human rights.

The MLSA rights group said journalist Tugba Tekerek, who was detained Sunday overnight as part of police operations, was due to give a statement to prosecutors in Ankara on Tuesday.

Tekerek was detained over a single news report she produced about the LGBTQ movement in Georgia, it said.

Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM party on Tuesday denounced Sunday's arrests, saying "repression" undermined the peace process it is mediating between Ankara and PKK militants.

"The language of peace cannot go hand in hand with repression," the party said on X.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has vowed to continue the campaign, brushing off concerns voiced by the European Union.

Same-sex relations are not a criminal offence in Turkey, but homophobia is prevalent, including at the highest levels of the state.