Turkey: Blocks LGBTQ Social Media Accounts Amid 'Decade of Family' Push

• Turkish authorities blocked numerous social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ organizations, rights groups, and media outlets on X and Instagram.
• These blocks followed nationwide police raids and detentions targeting LGBTQ+ individuals and gay bars over the preceding weekend.
• Justice Minister Akın Gürlek linked the crackdown to President Erdoğan's 'Decade of the Family' initiative, aimed at protecting traditional values and social order.
• Affected entities included Kaos GL, Amnesty International Turkey, the Evrensel newspaper, and lawyer Levent Pişkin.
• Prosecutors alleged 'obscene' content accessible to children as a reason for actions against groups like Kaos GL, whose offices were searched and executives detained.

The recent wave of social media account blocks and detentions underscores an escalating state-led campaign against LGBTQ+ communities and their allies in Turkey, framed by authorities as an effort to uphold traditional family values.

Turkish authorities have initiated a significant crackdown on online content, resulting in the blocking of numerous social media accounts belonging to human rights organizations and media outlets. This widespread censorship, reported by the İFÖD media watchdog on a Monday, primarily affected accounts on X and Instagram. The move followed a series of nationwide police raids and detentions that targeted LGBTQ+ groups and gay bars over the preceding weekend.

Among the entities whose accounts were blocked were prominent organizations such as Amnesty International Turkey, the Evrensel newspaper, Academics for Peace, and the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). Additionally, X independently blocked the accounts of more than a dozen Turkish LGBTQ+ organizations and rights groups, including the well-known Kaos GL rights group and lawyer Levent Pişkin. These actions highlight a growing trend of Turkish social media censorship impacting digital freedoms.

The recent enforcement actions, including the police detentions of dozens across the country on a Sunday, were officially justified by authorities as an effort to promote traditional family values. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek publicly stated on a Sunday that these raids were integral to President Erdoğan's 'Decade of the Family' initiative. This program, according to Gürlek, aims to safeguard children, the institution of the family, and the broader social order.

Further elaborating on the government's stance, Minister Gürlek posted on X on a Monday, affirming ongoing efforts to protect families, children, and youth from various forms of exploitation, obscenity, crime, and harmful content. He emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for any organization perceived as targeting the family institution, the future of youth, or social order. This initiative provides a clear framework for the state's increasing intervention in online and offline spaces, particularly concerning content related to LGBTQ+ communities.

Despite the fact that same-sex relations are legally permissible in Turkey, the LGBTQ+ community frequently faces official targeting and widespread societal homophobia. President Erdoğan has previously voiced strong disapproval of the LGBTQ+ community, describing it as a movement that deviates from societal norms and its members in derogatory terms. This creates a challenging environment for internet freedom in Turkey, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals and their advocates.

One of the groups directly affected, Kaos GL, reported that its offices were searched and executives detained. Prosecutors in Ankara alleged that Kaos GL had published 'obscene' content that was accessible to children. This specific accusation underscores the legal and moral justifications authorities are employing to restrict content and target organizations, raising concerns about Turkey's human rights law adherence and the scope of content moderation.

The coordinated blocking of social media accounts and the preceding raids signal an intensified state-led campaign against LGBTQ+ communities and their allies in Turkey. The involvement of major platforms like X and Instagram in implementing these blocks, following official requests, highlights the pressure exerted on tech companies operating within the country. This situation presents significant challenges for human rights organizations and media groups attempting to operate freely and disseminate information.

The broad scope of the blocked accounts, encompassing not only LGBTQ specific groups like Kaos GL but also general human rights advocates like Amnesty International Turkey and media outlets, indicates a widening net of Turkish social media censorship. This development underscores a concerning trend for internet freedom and freedom of expression, particularly as the government leverages initiatives like the 'Decade of the Family' to justify restrictive measures against content deemed contrary to traditional values.

Lawyers advising tech companies or human rights organizations operating in Turkey should note the escalating state-led censorship of social media, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ content, as it indicates increased legal pressure and compliance risks related to content moderation and freedom of expression under the 'Decade of the Family' initiative.

Source: Original reporting via AFP