Stop the Crackdown on the LGBTIQ+ Community in Türkiye

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and partner organizations express deep concern over escalating human rights violations against the LGBTIQ+ community in Türkiye amid the proposed anti-LGBTIQ+ provisions.

We, the undersigned organizations, remain deeply concerned about the escalating human rights violations in Türkiye, particularly those targeting LGBTIQ+ people under the government’s so-called “Year of the Family” initiative and the draft 11th Judicial Package.

Although recent reports suggest that the explicitly anti-LGBTIQ+ provisions may have been removed following widespread public outcry, these claims remain unverified. If enacted, the law would:

1. Raise the minimum age for starting the gender affirmation process from 18 to 25, and require mandatory sterilisation
2. Restrict medical interventions for gender affirmation without official authorization, with prison and fines for violations.
3. Criminalize the promotion or encouragement of behaviors considered contrary to biological sex or public morality.
4. Penalize same-sex engagement or marriage with imprisonment.
5. Make it harder for trans individuals to change gender on official documents.
6. Amend the Penal Code to label LGBTIQ expressions as “immodesty”, penalizing visibility of such expressions.

In our opinion, the leaked provisions related to LGBTIQ+ persons would:

1. Violate the right to non-discrimination and equality by marginalizing LGBTIQ people (ICCPR Articles 2, 3, 26).
2. Suppress freedom of expression and association by restricting activism, media representation, and civil society (ICCPR Articles 19, 22).
3. Increase the risk of arbitrary arrests and selective enforcement, threatening activists, journalists, and human rights defenders (ICCPR Article 9).
4. Undermine privacy and bodily autonomy, including through criminalization of identities, surveillance, and forced sterilization requirements (ICCPR Articles 7, 17).
5. Heighten violence and impunity against LGBTIQ individuals, exposing them to hate crimes and inadequate state protection (ICCPR Articles 6, 7).

We fear that this is not the end of the attempt to adopt laws targeting the LGBTIQ+ community. Even if confirmed, this does not change the broader intent to restrict fundamental freedoms and legislate discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons under different pretexts.

After the provisions restricting fundamental human rights of LGBTIQ persons in the 11th Judicial Package were leaked, protests emerged across the country, and the authorities have responded with force.

We commend the courage and solidarity of feminist, LGBTIQ+, human rights, and democratic movements in Türkiye whose united mobilization has already demonstrated the power of collective resistance.

The 11th Judicial Package, even in its current form, poses serious risks to democracy and the rule of law, including provisions that criminalize protest, restrict children’s rights, and intensify state repression.

We call on the Turkish government to:

1. End all violence, harassment, and prosecution of LGBTIQ+ persons, organizations journalists, activists, and protesters.
2. Cease efforts to legislate discrimination under the pretext of protecting “family”.
3. Uphold obligations under international human rights law, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We urge the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, EU, and democratic allies to maintain close attention to the 11th Judicial Package and raise it urgently with Turkish authorities.

We specifically call on Norway to:

1. Address the ongoing human rights concerns raised by the 11th Judicial Package with Turkish counterparts;
2. Reinforce support for civil society and LGBTIQ+ organizations in Türkiye.
3. Ensure flexible protection mechanisms, including visa access, for at-risk human rights defenders.

The struggle for equality, justice, and freedom in Türkiye continues. We stand in unwavering solidarity with those resisting hate, repression, and the erosion of fundamental rights.

Signatories:

1. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee
2. Skeiv Verden
3. Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund – SAIH
4. ISFIT / Students Peace Prize
5. Arctic Pride
6. Pasientorganisasjonen for kjønnsinkongruens
7. FRI – The Norwegian Organization for Sexual and Gender Diversity
8. OSLO Pride
9. Regnbuedagene i Bergen / Bergen Pride