Turkey's oldest LGBTQ+ group has office closed as crackdown continues

Lambda Istanbul said closure by authorities aimed to 'isolate' LGBTQ+ people and deprive them of a space to organise Participants in the 12th Trans Pride March in Kadikoy, Istanbul on 21 June 2026 (Abdullah Tepeli/Zuma Press Wire) Published date: 12 November 2026 15:50 GMT | Last update: 8 sec ago Authorities in Turkey have closed the office of the country's oldest LGBTQ+ organisation, claiming it is an "unauthorised social club". The Istanbul Governor’s Office sealed the office of Lambda Istanbul LGBTI+ Solidarity Association on Wednesday, as a crackdown continues across the country targeting LGBTQ+ groups. In a statement, Lambda Istanbul said the move was a further attempt to "isolate LGBTI+ individuals, deprive them of their living spaces, and restrict their freedom to organise". Lambda Istanbul was founded in 1993 out of an attempt by LGBTQ+ activists to stage the city's first Pride parade. Its office was opened in 2002 and it was formally registered as an association in 2006. "We do not accept the attempt to frame our association’s activities – which we have conducted openly, transparently, and in compliance with official records for years – as the 'operation of an unauthorised social club', nor do we accept the encroachment upon our living spaces!" the group said in its statement. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Another organisation, Hevi LGBTI+, also announced on Thursday that their termination had been requested in an indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The group also said the indictment was seeking to prosecute five founding members of Hevi over violation of the law on associations. Crackdown continues Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, and social attitudes vary, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has increasingly targeted the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced earlier this year that 2026 onwards would be the "Decade of the Family" and has characterised the LGBTQ+ community as a threat to family values. Hundreds of people and organisations have been detained and raided in recent months as part of the "My Family is Safe" operation, while hundreds of social media accounts and websites have been banned. 'We'll always be here': Activists target Erdogan in US over LGBTQ+ crackdown Read More » More than 80 people have now been formally arrested and remain in jail, pending trial. Detainees have faced charges of "obscenity", "assisting prostitution" and having "financial links abroad", while the government and its supporters have pushed a narrative of protecting family values. At the request of the Turkish authorities, X has blocked the accounts of Amnesty International Turkey, the left-wing Evrensel newspaper, Academics for Peace, and the Media and Law Studies Association, among others. Other accounts blocked include the Sexual Education, Treatment and Research Association (Cetad), which provides support to people living with HIV and Aids, and the Psychiatric Association of Turkey (TPD). Another major target was Kaos GL, one of Turkey's most prominent LGBTQ+ organisations, which the Ankara chief prosecutor's office said had been subject to 21 arrests as part of an investigation. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.