Eleven leaders of a Turkish LGBTQ+ rights association appeared in court this week, facing charges of “obscenity” and “violating the protection of the family.” The defendants, who lead the Genç LGBTI+ (Young LGBTI+) association, are being tried in the western city of Izmir in a case that legal advocates describe as a targeted effort to erase queer visibility from the public square.
The prosecution centers on social media activity, specifically the publication of images showing same-sex couples kissing. Turkish authorities have deemed these images “obscene” and argue that such content breaches constitutional articles regarding the protection of family values. If convicted, the association leaders face up to three years in prison and the potential suspension of their civil rights.
While homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, the legal environment for LGBTQ+ individuals has grown increasingly precarious. The current proceedings are the latest in a series of judicial and political pressures directed at the community by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling AK Party, who have frequently linked LGBTQ+ visibility to a decline in the national birth rate.
The Legal Battle Over ‘Family Values’
The trial is not an isolated legal action but part of a broader campaign to dismantle the Genç LGBTI+ association. In December, a separate court ruling ordered the dissolution of the organization based on the same charges of obscenity and threats to family structures. Rights campaigners have since appealed that decision, fighting to maintain the association legally recognized.
Kerem Dikmen, the association’s lawyer and a member of its supervisory board, is himself among those on trial. He argues that the prosecution is a thin veil for political persecution rather than a legitimate pursuit of public morality.
“This trial arises from a policy of excluding LGBT+ people from the public sphere,” Dikmen said. “It is an attack on freedom of expression and freedom of association.”
Dikmen further contended that the activities being criminalized are entirely legal and consistent with the constitution, describing the proceedings as “a form of dehumanisation” designed to send a chilling message to the wider LGBTQ+ community in Turkey.
A Pattern of Systematic Suppression
The current trial reflects a long-term trend of restricting LGBTQ+ assembly and expression in Turkey. Since 2015, the annual Pride marches—once a staple of urban visibility in cities like Istanbul—have been almost systematically banned or suppressed by law enforcement.
The legal framework has also seen attempts to further criminalize LGBTQ+ identities. Last November, the government withdrew a draft amendment to the penal code that would have allowed for the prosecution of individuals whose behavior was deemed “contrary to biological sex and general morality.” While that specific amendment did not pass, the use of “obscenity” laws provides a flexible tool for authorities to target activists without needing new legislation.
| Period/Date | Action/Event | Legal/Political Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Since 2015 | Systematic Pride march bans | Public order and security concerns |
| November 2025 | Penal code amendment withdrawn | Proposed “biological sex” morality laws |
| December 2025 | Dissolution order for Genç LGBTI+ | Violation of family protection laws |
| April 2026 | Trial of 11 association leaders | Charges of “obscenity” in Izmir |
Impact on Freedom of Association
For the defendants in Izmir, the stakes extend beyond potential jail time. The suspension of civil rights in Turkey can include the loss of the right to vote or hold public office, effectively stripping activists of their political agency. This strategy of “judicial harassment” is often cited by international observers as a means of silencing dissent without the international outcry that follows mass arrests or formal bans on speech.
The case highlights a fundamental tension between the Turkish state’s interpretation of “family values” and the universal human rights of freedom of expression. By framing a kiss between two people of the same sex as a threat to the state’s social fabric, the prosecution seeks to redefine the boundaries of what is permissible in the public eye.
Advocates argue that the target is not merely the 11 individuals on trial, but the remarkably concept of a public sphere where LGBTQ+ people can exist openly. The effort to dissolve the Genç LGBTI+ association is seen as a move to remove the institutional support systems that provide safety and legal guidance to queer youth in the country.
What This Means for the LGBTQ+ Community
The trial serves as a barometer for the future of human rights in Turkey. If the court upholds the “obscenity” charges, it could set a precedent for a wave of similar prosecutions against other rights groups and individual social media users. It essentially creates a legal environment where the mere act of documenting a relationship online could lead to a criminal record.
Despite these pressures, the association’s leadership maintains that they will continue to challenge the rulings. The appeal against the December dissolution order remains a critical focal point for the group’s survival.
Disclaimer: This report is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
The legal proceedings in Izmir are ongoing. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 14, where the court is expected to hear further testimony and determine the fate of the 11 association leaders.
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