23/04/2025 | Writer: Defne Güzel
The month of March reflected the layered violence faced by LGBTI+’s. While those offering so-called conversion therapy defended themselves, violence against trans individuals made headlines.
Photo: Serra Akcan / csgorselarsiv.org
Violations
Despite lacking expertise, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akın, who allegedly practiced so-called conversion therapy on children he believed to be LGBTQ+, was exposed by victims on social media, sparking public outrage. Violence against trans people, censorship of LGBTQ+ content, and anti-LGBTQ+ protocols continued. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ individuals seeking justice faced detention.
- The conversion therapy disaster: Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akın admitted to applying so-called conversion therapy to children he believed were LGBTQ+, defending himself by saying, “These children have gone off the rails.” Psychiatrist Mustafa Merter, in a TV appearance, referred to gender transition processes as “madness.” Having had a busy March, Merter also declared on another show, “There’s no such thing as LGBT.”
- Attack on LGBTQ+ people during 2025 Newroz: At the Newroz celebrations in Yenikapı Square, a group attacked people carrying LGBTQ+ flags. The Trans Pride Week Committee and Istanbul Pride Week Committee responded, saying, “We queers are subjects of that space.”
- Digital violence against journalist Evrim Deniz: Evrim Deniz, a bianet reporter covering the March 8 rally in Diyarbakır, was targeted online after sharing placards protesting LGBTQ+ discrimination and violence.
- Transphobic violence in Kartal, Istanbul: A group of men attacked a trans woman in Istanbul’s Kartal district. The Human Rights Association condemned the attack, stating, “Let life live, not hate.”
- Police violence against 8 trans women in Tarlabaşı, Istanbul: The Trans Pride Week Committee reported that on March 12, eight trans women were subjected to police violence and fined under the “Misdemeanor Law.”
- Censorship at the Istanbul Film Festival: The festival reportedly removed the “Where Are You, My Love?” section, which had featured queer films since 2014.
- Discrimination at Starbucks: An LGBTQ+ employee at the Starbucks Beykent53 branch in Istanbul faced discrimination from coworkers on Tuesday, March 18. The store manager stated they were monitoring the situation.
- Death of trans woman Yılsu: The 20 November Association announced that Yılsu, a resident of Bornova Street, died following a surgical operation. The association stated, “We know that every trans death is political.”
- Anti-LGBTQ+ protocol by RTÜK and the Family Foundation: RTÜK and the Family Foundation signed a “Cooperation Protocol on the Protection and Strengthening of the Family.” RTÜK Chair Ebubekir Şahin stated, “We will continue our fight against LGBT.”
- “Year of the Family” action plan by Diyanet-Sen: Announced on February 28, the plan targets LGBTQ+ people using terms like “genderlessness,” “perversion,” and “gender ideology.”
- Overseas education by the Ministry of Family: One of the ministry’s “Family Education Seminars” in Germany includes a session titled “Genderlessness.”
- Eğitim-Sen’s course blocked: The Ministry of National Education (MEB) prevented Eğitim-Sen from teaching a “Gender Equality” course in schools.
- Anti-LGBTQ+ manifesto: Under YRP Battalgazi District Chair Kasım Çolakoğlu, an anti-LGBTQ+ manifesto was distributed.
- RTÜK declares 2025 the ‘Year of the Fight Against LGBT’: RTÜK Vice Chair Feyzullah Tecirli declared 2025 the “Year of the Fight Against LGBT.” BTK Vice Chair Abdülkerim Gün stated, “We will never allow LGBT content.”
- Information requests highlight discrimination: In response to a freedom of information request by Kaos GL, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality stated, “We have no specific services for LGBTQ+ people.” The Ministry of Family said the “Alo 183 Social Support Line” does not handle calls from LGBTQ+ individuals. The Ministry of Justice did not respond to Pink Life’s inquiry about the draft anti-LGBTQ+ law, citing the request as a legal opinion.
- Detentions of LGBTQ+ rights defenders: In March, several activists were detained, including Boran Mergen, a board member of Pink Life, and five activists in İzmir, among them Ani. Oğuz from Resistance Colors and the İzmir Pride Committee was arrested on March 22. In Bursa, activist Yusuf was detained on March 26. Resistance Colors also reported the detention of Meryem in Istanbul. Zarife Akbulut and a member of Queer Yıldız, the LGBTQ+ student group at Yıldız Technical University, were also detained.
March 8 crackdown
As women and LGBTQ+ people filled the streets, police targeted placards, banners, rainbow flags, and activists.
- Mersin: At the Feminist Night March, police surrounded the Muamma LGBTQ+ Association and detained 20 people for nearly two hours. Placards were trashed. Cemre Kutbay, wearing a rainbow-colored headscarf, was assaulted by police, as was her husband, Utku Kutbay.
- Çanakkale: Police demanded rainbow flags be handed over at the Feminist Night March, later confiscating them.
- Ankara: Police attempted to block women and LGBTQ+ people marching from Kolej Square to Güvenpark. A press statement noted that police didn’t want to see LGBTQ+ flags.
- Istanbul: In Taksim, where access was restricted by police barricades, women resisted the “disperse” order with chants and whistles. 112 women and LGBTQ+ individuals were detained; 111 were released. LGBTQ+ activist İris Mozalar appeared before a judge and was released with a travel ban.
- İzmir: Police attempted to block women and LGBTQ+ people gathering in Alsancak.
- Bursa: Police threatened to ban LGBTQ+ materials at the rally in Fomara Square.
- Erzincan: A person with a rainbow flag and a member of Katre Women’s Solidarity were summoned for questioning on March 9 for displaying the flag during a march.
Targeting and demonization
In politics, LGBTQ+ individuals were increasingly labeled with terms like “weapon of mass destruction,” “LGBT plague,” “perverse,” and “genderlessness,” while anti-LGBTQ+ petitions appeared in the media.
- AKP Deputy Chair: Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu called LGBTQ+ people a “weapon of mass destruction” in parliament.
- President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called LGBTQ+ people a “plague” at a party group meeting.
- Education Minister: Yusuf Tekin said gender equality is “not something that can be defined as freedom.”
- Interior Minister: Ali Yerlikaya referred to LGBTQ+ people as a “perverse ideology” at the Governors’ Meeting.
- Presidential Advisor: Mehmet Uçum stated on social media that individuals should be protected against “genderlessness.”
- Istanbul Governor: Davut Gül claimed Eğitim-Sen’s gender equality course violated regulations.
- Youth and Sports Minister: Osman Aşkın Bak warned of “genderlessness and LGBT trends” during a Ramadan dinner in Edirne.
- Family Minister: Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş referred to LGBTQ+ people as a “harmful trend” at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
- MHP Deputy Chair: İlyas Topsakal made a shocking remark by linking LGBTQ+ people with “uncivilization.”
- YRP MP: Doğan Bekin announced they awaited the General Assembly’s consideration of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
- Republican Women’s Association: President Tülin Oygür said “the Istanbul Convention is a Trojan horse for LGBT” and claimed LGBTQ+ groups should be shut down. DEM Party MPs responded, “LGBTQ+ rights are human rights.”
- Provincial family programs: Events in Aksaray and Mardin targeted LGBTQ+ people under the guise of family programming.
- Memur-Sen: Chair Ali Yalçın supported a constitutional amendment against LGBTQ+ rights. Their petition circulated in multiple cities.
Legal updates
KaosGL.org Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar’s lawyers appealed to the Constitutional Court for her release. Meanwhile, the TTM closure case was postponed, and during the 2024 Eskişehir Pride trial, the prosecutor reportedly fell asleep and then requested punishment for all defendants.
- TTM case postponed: The lawsuit against the association, accused of “violating morality and law,” was postponed to September 29.
- Constitutional Court appeal for Yıldız Tar: Lawyers from Kaos GL and MLSA applied on behalf of Yıldız Tar, detained since February 21.
- Eskişehir Pride trial: A report on the 10 people charged following the 2024 march made not mention of poliçe violence. During a four-hour session, the prosecutor, after reportedly falling asleep, demanded punishment for all defendants. Objections will be filed and the next hearing will be held on April 9.
Tags: human rights, women, media, arts and culture, life, labour, family, health
