15/09/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
Eight people, including trans activists Umut Derin and Janset Kalan, LGBTI+ mother Nedime Erdoğan of the Rainbow Families Association, and journalist Tuğba Tekerek, were arrested in the Kaos GL operation.
Fourteen Kaos GL members and journalist Tuğba Tekerek, who were detained as part of an LGBTI+ investigation carried out in Ankara under the name “My Family is Safe” and referred to the court with a request for their arrest, have completed their questioning before the Criminal Judgeship of Peace.
Journalist Tuğba Tekerek and seven principal members of Kaos GL’s executive and supervisory boards were arrested. Seven alternate members of the executive and supervisory boards were released under judicial control measures.
Among those arrested are trans activists Janset Kalan and Umut Derin, as well as Nedime Erdoğan, an LGBTI+ mother from the Rainbow Families Association.
What happened?
As part of the “My Family is Safe” operation targeting LGBTI+ people, members of Kaos GL’s executive and supervisory boards, including alternate members, were detained during police raids on their homes. The association’s office was also searched, and digital devices were seized.
The investigation in Ankara is being conducted on allegations of “obscenity” and “violating the Law on Associations.” During the police questioning of the detained LGBTI+ activists, they were asked about news articles and opinion pieces published on Kaos GL’s website, social media posts, the association’s funding and sources of funding, and the grants it has received.
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that judicial proceedings had been initiated against 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses as part of operations carried out in 15 provinces under the name “My Family is Safe.”
Tags: human rights, women, media, arts and culture, life, family, lgbti
