21/09/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
Nedime Erdoğan, a Kaos GL Board member and mother of an LGBTI+ child, who was imprisoned as part of the “My Family is Safe” operations, sent a letter from prison.
Nedime Erdoğan, a Kaos GL Board member and mother of an LGBTI+ child, who was imprisoned as part of the “My Family is Safe” operations, sent a letter from prison.
Erdoğan said she found it “tragicomic” when she learned that she had been detained as part of the “My Family is Safe” operation. She said that she had spent years fighting against rights violations faced by LGBTI+ people in the public sphere and working to encourage families to stand by their children:
“For years, while fighting against the bullying and injustices faced by LGBTI+ people across all areas of public life, from education to healthcare, I have also worked to involve families in this struggle. I have tried to explain the importance of families understanding their children, supporting them and standing by their side.”
Erdoğan continued:
“No operation can change the meaning of the struggle I have waged as a woman, a citizen and a mother.”
Erdoğan responds to allegations against Kaos GL
Erdoğan also addressed the charge of “violating the Law on Associations.” She said that Kaos GL, where she serves on the Board, conducts its operations transparently, noting that the association had recently been inspected by the Ministry of Interior and had previously carried out joint projects with the Ministry of Health.
Erdoğan also reacted to the charge concerning “obscene works,” emphasizing freedom of expression and artistic freedom:
“The works of artists may not appeal to you. No authority should have the right to impose limits on them. To those who fail to understand this, I can only say: ‘For any reason, you too may be deemed obscene; your turn may come.’”
“It is time to hold each other closer”
Erdoğan concluded her letter with a call for solidarity among LGBTI+ people and their families:
“All LGBTI+ people and their families must understand that, in such a process, the only way forward is to hold each other closer, preserve our hope and continue the struggle. With all my feelings of solidarity, I send my greetings and love to everyone, promising that I will work even harder.”
The full letter reads:
“When I learned that I had been detained as part of the ‘My Family is Safe’ operation, I received the news with a bit of laughter. I would like to explain this tragicomic situation a little. For years, while fighting against the bullying and injustices faced by LGBTI+ people across all areas of public life, from education to healthcare, I have also worked to involve families in this struggle. I have tried to explain the importance of families understanding their children, supporting them and standing by their side. No operation can change the meaning of the struggle I have waged as a woman, a citizen and a mother. There is also a charge of ‘violating the Law on Associations.’ The association where I serve on the Board (KAOS GL) is a civil society organization respected across the civil society field for its experience and expertise, and it conducts all of its operations transparently through internal audits, oversight and independent auditors. It was inspected by the Ministry of Interior very recently and received thanks for its work. It is also frequently inspected by the Associations Desk. It is an association that has previously carried out joint projects with the Ministry of Health. There is also the charge concerning ‘obscene works.’ Visual works created by people using their emotions, experiences and creativity are protected under freedom of expression and artistic freedom. You may not like an artist’s work. No authority should have the right to impose limits on it. To those who fail to understand this, I can only say: ‘For any reason, you too may be deemed obscene; your turn may come.’ All LGBTI+ people and their families must understand that, in such a process, the only way forward is to hold each other closer, preserve our hope and continue the struggle. With all my feelings of solidarity, I send my greetings and love to everyone, promising that I will work even harder.”
Tags: human rights, women, media, arts and culture, life, family, lgbti
