Turkey arrests dozens in crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists

Image source, Getty Images By Gabriela Pomeroy Published 6 hours ago Turkish police have arrested dozens of people as part of the government's recent crackdown on LGBTQ+ activists and venues.

The protesters were detained as they gathered on Tuesday outside Istanbul's main courthouse.

They were calling for the release of another group of LGBTQ+ activists, who were arrested over the weekend in a series of raids on gay bars and at the homes of activists.

The Turkish government has detained members of the LGBTQ+ community and activists as part of a campaign dubbed "My Family is Safe", which the government says has been designed to protect family values.

At Tuesday's protest, people chanted "Long live the struggle for freedom!" and called for the detained activists to be released, news agency AFP reported. Police made several arrests after some demonstrators unfurled a banner reading "Being LGBTQ is not a crime".