The Turkish judicial system is facing intense scrutiny following the criminal prosecution of 11 board members of the Genç LGBTI+ (Young LGBTI+) Association, including Kerem Dikmen, the former president of Amnesty International Turkey. The charges, which center on alleged violations of the Law on Associations, could result in prison sentences of up to three years for those involved.
The legal battle stems from a series of events in Izmir, where authorities have moved to dissolve the organization based on “obscenity” charges related to five illustrations shared on social media between 2019 and 2022. These images, described as colorful drawings depicting people kissing and some degrees of nudity, have become the focal point of a broader effort by the state to restrict LGBTI+ advocacy under the guise of protecting traditional family values.
Human rights defenders characterize these legal proceedings as part of a coordinated strategy of harassment. Amnesty International has called for the immediate withdrawal of these charges, arguing that the prosecution is groundless and serves as a tool to criminalize the defense of human rights in Turkey.
The case highlights a troubling contradiction within the Turkish legal process: while the Cyber Crimes Office of the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office concluded in August 2025 that the illustrations were not obscene, a civil court later used those same images to justify the dissolution of the association.
The Legal Mechanism of Dissolution
The trajectory of the case against Genç LGBTI+ began with a 2024 audit report, which served as the basis for a December 2025 ruling by the Izmir 3rd Civil Court of First Instance. The court ordered the dissolution of the association, claiming that the organization’s social media presence “encouraged and incited” citizens to behave as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, or transsexuals.
In its ruling, the court asserted that the association was not “in accordance with the moral values of society” and specifically cited Article 41 of the Turkish Constitution, which establishes the family as the foundation of Turkish society. By framing LGBTI+ visibility as a threat to the family unit, the judiciary has effectively linked artistic expression and social advocacy to criminal activity.
The association has formally appealed this decision, but the legal pressure has since shifted from the entity to the individuals. In October 2025, the criminal process began against the board of directors and the supervisory board, including Emirhan Şaşmaz and Kerem Dikmen. This transition from civil dissolution to criminal prosecution represents a significant escalation in the state’s approach to LGBTI+ organizations.
Timeline of Legal Actions against Genç LGBTI+
| Date | Event | Legal Status/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2022 | Social media posts | Five illustrations shared on Facebook and Instagram |
| August 2025 | Prosecutorial Review | Cyber Crimes Office finds images are not obscene |
| October 2025 | Criminal Charges | 11 board members accused of violating Law on Associations |
| December 2025 | Civil Ruling | Izmir 3rd Civil Court orders dissolution of association |
A Pattern of State Repression
For those reporting on diplomacy and conflict in the region, this case is not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of a tightening social climate. Esther Major, Deputy Director of Research for Europe at Amnesty International, has described the case as part of an “increasingly anti-LGBTI agenda” being implemented by Turkish authorities.
The use of “family values” as a legal shield allows the state to attack the freedom of association. By criminalizing the leadership of Genç LGBTI+, the authorities are not only removing a specific organization from the public sphere but are also sending a chilling message to other activists: the mere act of managing an LGBTI+ organization can lead to imprisonment.
The prosecution of Kerem Dikmen is particularly symbolic. As a former leader of Amnesty International Turkey, Dikmen represents the intersection of global human rights standards and local activism. His targeting suggests that the state is unwilling to grant leniency even to those with high-profile international connections.
“The authorities closed a dynamic association in favor of LGBTI+ rights despite it having been determined that its posts on social networks were not obscene, and now they are threatening the liberty of the people who made up its board of directors.”
Impact on Freedom of Association
The implications of this case extend beyond the 11 individuals facing trial. The Law on Associations is being used as a flexible tool to dismantle civil society. When a court can define a colorful drawing of a kiss as “obscene” and a violation of constitutional family values, the boundary of legal speech becomes dangerously unpredictable.
This legal instability forces many LGBTI+ organizations to operate in a gray area, often avoiding public visibility to escape the gaze of the Cyber Crimes Office. The current case demonstrates that even historical posts—some dating back to 2019—can be weaponized years later to justify the dissolution of an organization and the arrest of its leaders.
The international community continues to monitor the situation, as Turkey’s adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights remains a point of contention. The freedom to associate and the right to expression are fundamental pillars that are currently being eroded by the selective application of “morality” laws.
For those seeking the most current updates on the proceedings, Amnesty International Turkey maintains active communication via their official channels, including their Turkey country page, where urgent actions and legal updates are posted.
The next critical checkpoint in this case is the upcoming hearing, where the defense will challenge the validity of the charges and the contradiction between the prosecutor’s initial findings and the court’s subsequent ruling. The outcome will likely set a precedent for how the Turkish state handles LGBTI+ associations in the coming years.
This article provides information for educational and journalistic purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
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