Jailed Turkish LGBT activist Nedime Erdoğan urges parents to support their children

On 28 September, Nedime Erdoğan, a board member of Turkey’s LGBT organisation Kaos GL and a founder of the Ankara Rainbow Families Association (GALADER), answered Bianet’s questions in writing while in pretrial detention at Sincan Women’s Closed Prison. She urged parents not to abandon LGBT children and said that understanding and supporting a child can save their life.

Erdoğan was remanded in custody in the Ankara branch of the “My Family Is Safe” (Ailem Güvende) operation, which began on 12 September. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Justice , proceedings across 15 provinces involved 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses. Prosecutors in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Aydın and Mersin coordinated the operation.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the authorities intended to protect children, the family and public order. Different branches of the investigation concern alleged formation of a criminal organisation, facilitation of prostitution, distribution of obscene material and drug offences. Officials have also alleged inappropriate influence on minors regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and have examined associations’ foreign funding. These remain claims by investigators: Bianet did not report an individual indictment or conviction against Erdoğan.

In the interview, Erdoğan said the family can protect LGBT people, although relatives can also be responsible for violence. She argued that society and family forms change and that a family is built “not only through blood ties” but also through solidarity, love and support. She rejected the portrayal of LGBT people as opposed to the family and noted the importance of chosen families for those rejected by relatives.

Rights-focused media counted 116 people detained by 17 September, including 44 LGBT rights defenders; courts had remanded 82 people in custody. LGBT organisations said in joint statements that their lawful work had no concrete connection to the alleged crimes and described the proceedings as criminalisation of rights advocacy. Official statements, by contrast, link the operation to investigations of specific alleged offences.

Kaos GL has operated in Ankara since 1994, combining rights advocacy with publishing an LGBT news outlet. GALADER brings together parents and relatives of LGBT people and offers family meetings and advice; the group has met since 2010 and became a registered association in 2019.

Urania previously reported on the launch of the operation and the blocking of LGBT resources , as well as the “We Demand Freedom” campaign formed after the mass arrests.