A demonstration will take place in Dublin this Wednesday, September 30, as part of an International Day of Solidarity with LGBTQ+ people, activists, human rights defenders and civil society organisations in Türkiye. It will occur outside the European Parliament Liaison Office at 11 Chatham Street in Dublin 2 at 6pm.

Irish LGBTQ+ organisations and allies will gather on Wednesday calling for urgent action in response to the crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community in Türkiye.

The demonstration follows a joint letter sent to Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee TD, by 20 Irish LGBTQ+ community organisations including The National LGBTQ+ Federation, Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre, LGBT Ireland, Belong To, Dublin Pride, TENI and more. They are calling for the Irish government to engage with Turkish authorities and take concrete diplomatic action.

The demonstration calls for: the protection and humane treatment of LGBTQ+ people and human rights defenders in detention; the release of people detained solely in connection with legitimate human rights activity and the exercise of fundamental freedoms; an end to the targeting of LGBTQ+ organisations and independent civil society; and continued international solidarity, diplomatic pressure and support for LGBTQ+ rights and civic space in Türkiye.

Members of the public, supporters and allies are all invited to attend.

 

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This comes after dozens of LGBTQ+ people, activists and human rights defenders were detained and targeted as part of a broader crackdown carried out under the government’s so-called “family values” agenda and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ‘Decade of Family and Population’ initiative. While same-sex relationships are legal in Türkiye, LGBTQ+ people continue to face increasing restrictions and discrimination.

Earlier this month, on Sunday, September 13, Turkish police carried out coordinated raids targeting LGBTQ+ activists, organisations and venues across 12 provinces. Websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBTQ+ and feminist organisations and activists were also blocked. 

The recent crackdown was coordinated by Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek as part of the ‘My Family Is Safe’ campaign. The Minister later confirmed that 162 people, 13 businesses and nine associations were being investigated after the raids.

Furthermore, earlier this year, 11 leaders of the Genç LGBTI+ (Young LGBTI+) association in Türkiye were put on trial in the city of Izmir, facing charges of “obscenity” and “violating the protection of the family”.

Protesters also gathered in Dublin last week, on Wednesday, September 23, in solidarity with the Turkish LGBTQ+ community. Organised by Labour LGBTQ+, they assembled outside the Embassy of Türkiye in Ballsbridge and similarly demanded action from the Irish government.