Turkish Journalist Arrested for Obscenity in LGBTQ Crackdown
Freelance journalist Tuğba Tekerek was arrested in Turkey on September 15, 2026, on obscenity allegations related to a single article she wrote two years
Turkish authorities arrested freelance journalist Tuğba Tekerek on September 15, 2026, pending trial on suspicion of obscenity. The charge stems from a single news article she wrote about elections in Georgia two years ago for the website of Kaos GL, a major Turkish LGBTQ+ rights organization.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), police in Istanbul first took Tekerek into custody on September 13. This occurred during a widespread police operation against the LGBTQ+ community. She was later transferred to Ankara for court proceedings. No trial date has been set.
The Wider Crackdown and Detentions
Tekerek's arrest is part of a broader state action. Police conducted raids on homes and gay bars over the same weekend, detaining dozens of activists and other individuals. The operation is reportedly codenamed "My Family is Safe." Rights groups argue it targets fundamental rights.
At protests against these raids in Istanbul on Tuesday, two more journalists were detained. Şener Azak, a reporter for German ARD TV, was released shortly after. Sarya Toprak, a reporter for the daily BirGün, remained in custody. On September 16, her employer stated her detention was extended and she was questioned about social media posts related to the crackdown. CPJ states that over 100 other detainees were also held.
Details of the Allegations and Arrest
The obscenity allegations against Tekerek relate specifically to her 2024 article for Kaos GL. CPJ, which reviewed her police interrogation records and the court's arrest order, reports that Tekerek denied police claims she ran Kaos GL's Instagram account. She told the court she has no ties to the association beyond that one article, was never a member or volunteer, and does not know the other detainees except for one.
The seven board members were also arrested on obscenity suspicions. The seven substitute board members were released under judicial control, subject to a foreign travel ban and mandatory regular police reporting. The websites of Kaos GL and its news outlet have been blocked in Turkey by court order.
International Condemnation and Calls for Release
Fiona O’Brien, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia regional director, condemned the arrest. "It’s unacceptable that journalist Tuğba Tekerek was imprisoned for doing some freelance work for an LGBTQ+ publication years ago," O’Brien said. She described the prosecution as "indiscriminate and retrospective" and stated it "infringes her rights" and "sends a chilling message to all journalists."
CPJ has called for Turkish authorities to release Tekerek unconditionally and without delay and to stop pursuing journalists covering the crackdown. The organization emailed Turkey’s Justice Ministry for comment but received no reply. According to CPJ, at least 54 people were jailed in other provinces in connection with the crackdown, and police detained at least 126 people during Tuesday's protests in Ankara and Istanbul.
