We, the undersigned writers from Turkey and around the world, strongly condemn the coordinated raids, detentions and investigations targeting LGBTI+ human rights defenders, organisations and community spaces in Turkey. We call for the immediate release of those detained and for an end to the criminalisation of those who defend the fundamental rights and dignity of LGBTI+ people.

In the early hours of 13 September 2026, police conducted coordinated raids on the homes of LGBTI+ activists and on the offices of organisations defending LGBTI+ human rights in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Mersin and other cities. These operations followed court orders blocking the websites and social media accounts of numerous LGBTI+ organisations, media platforms and rights defenders.

That same night, police also raided clubs and other community spaces, leading to further detentions. According to the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the investigation concerns 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces, under the operation named “My Family is Safe.” Those targeted face allegations including obscenity, prostitution and drug-related offences, while authorities are also investigating the funding of civil society organisations. 

We are writers. We know that the freedom to speak, to write, to research, to organise and to tell the stories of our societies is inseparable from the freedom of expression itself. When organisations that have legally operated for decades are treated as criminal enterprises because they defend the rights of LGBTI+ people, this does not merely target one community. It threatens the conditions under which a free society can think, speak, create, remember.

These organisations are legally registered civil society organisations. Some have been active for more than thirty years and have provided invaluable documentation, research, advocacy and support to communities facing discrimination and violence. Their work has also been an important source for scholars, journalists, writers and researchers across disciplines. Criminalising this work places freedom of association, freedom of expression and academic freedom under direct pressure.

As writers, we cannot remain silent when words, research, solidarity and the simple act of organising are treated as crimes. Literature depends on the existence of a society in which people are free to speak about their lives, their identities, their bodies, their loves and their fears without being persecuted for doing so.

We therefore call on the Turkish authorities to:

immediately release all those detained solely in connection with their legitimate human rights work, end the criminal investigations and proceedings targeting LGBTI+ organisations and human rights defenders for their lawful activities, return all seized computers, phones, documents and other equipment, lift the blocking orders imposed on websites and social media accounts, respect freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right to peaceful assembly and uphold Turkey's obligations under its Constitution and international human rights commitments.
We stand with the writers, activists, researchers, journalists and human rights defenders who continue to speak, write and organise under increasing pressure.

We will not accept the criminalisation of human rights.

We will not remain silent.