12/11/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
The office of Lambdaistanbul, an LGBTI+ association operating in Istanbul, was sealed on November 11 over allegations of “operating an unauthorized members' club.”
The office of Lambdaistanbul, an LGBTI+ association operating in Istanbul, was sealed on Wednesday, November 11, over allegations of “operating an unauthorized members' club.” The association's office, where LGBTI+ people gather, organize solidarity activities and carry out their work through volunteer efforts, was closed despite conducting no commercial activities.
Following the sealing of its office, Lambdaistanbul issued a statement titled “Our Lambdaistanbul Association Office Has Been Sealed: We Will Not Give Up Our Collective Spaces of Solidarity!”
The association pointed out that its office had been sealed immediately after the release orders issued for imprisoned Kaos GL members, stating:
“Before we even had a chance to celebrate the decision to release our friends from Kaos GL, our office was unlawfully sealed on November 11, 2026, on allegations that we were ‘OPERATING AN UNAUTHORIZED MEMBERS' CLUB.’ Since the day it opened, our office has been a community space created by and for LGBTI+ people through volunteer efforts, enabling queer people to find themselves and one another and exist together. No commercial activities have ever taken place there.”
“End this practice that violates our freedom of association”
Lambdaistanbul emphasized that its association activities had been carried out openly, transparently and with proper records for years, condemning the use of these activities as grounds for allegations of “operating an unauthorized members' club.”
The statement stressed that LGBTI+ people would not give up their collective spaces of solidarity:
“We refuse to accept that our association activities, which we have carried out openly, transparently and with proper records for years, are now being used as grounds for allegations of ‘operating an unauthorized members' club’ and for restricting our spaces of existence!”
The association went on to emphasize that it would continue standing in solidarity against repression:
“As always, we stand with dignity and strength against the pressure imposed on us through baseless accusations and unlawful practices.”
Lambdaistanbul concluded its statement by calling on the authorities to revoke the sealing order:
“We call on the authorities to immediately put an end to this practice that violates our freedom of association, revoke the sealing order and ensure that our association office can reopen.”
Tags: human rights, media, lgbti
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