The trans women detained on the night of September 26 were released in the morning following police processing.
A police operation was conducted late last night (September 26) on the homes of trans women located on Bayram Street in Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
Twelve trans women were detained as a result of the operation. Kaos GL announced that the detained trans women were released following police processing.
The “We Want Freedom” Campaign Group condemned the raids, noting that lawyers were present with the trans women during the detention process.
“Trans kadınların yaşamlarına el uzatmayı bırakın!”
The campaign group’s statement is as follows:
“The government’s repression and persecution of LGBTI+ individuals continue. We have received reports that police raided the homes of trans women on Bayram Street in Istanbul and detained 12 trans women. Lawyers were present with their trans women clients during the detention process.
This wave of operations—launched under the banner of ‘My Family is Safe’—far from protecting those trapped in a cycle of poverty, violence, and insecurity, deeply impacts the homes, living spaces, friends, and loved ones of trans women.
The detentions and operations must cease immediately. We issue this warning: Stop encroaching upon the lives, homes, and streets of trans women under the pretext of morality!”
What happened?
By the decision of the Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace (Decision No. 2026/9559), access to the websites and social media accounts of numerous LGBTI+ organizations, media outlets, student groups, rights defenders, and activists was blocked on the night of September 12–13. That same night, raids were conducted on associations, homes, and venues in 15 provinces, most notably Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Mersin, and Kuşadası.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek described these operations as the “My Family is Safe” operations. Gürlek added that these operations were carried out within the scope of the “Family and Population Decade.” As a result of the operations, many individuals were detained, and 82 people were arrested.
Following the operations conducted on September 12, 2026, which targeted nine civil society organizations, including two associations working in the field of HIV, and resulted in the arrest of 82 people, the “We Want Freedom” Campaign Group announced its formation with the slogan: “Everywhere is a dungeon; we want freedom!”
