Turkey’s Ministry of Justice announced the shutdown of the website and social media accounts of T24, a leading independent digital publication. The official reason given was the dissemination of “LGBT propaganda” as part of a special government investigation. This came amid large-scale law enforcement raids and the announcement of snap elections.
What happened?
Turkey's Ministry of Justice has announced that the website and social media accounts of an independent news portal will be blocked T24. According to the ministry, the decision was made as part of a large-scale government investigation called “My Family Is Safe” (My Family is Safe).
Turkish authorities claim that over the past year, the outlet has published 118 articles, which officials believe contain “LGBT propaganda.”
How has T24's editorial team responded?
At the time the ministry's official statement was published, the T24 website remained operational. The editorial team stressed that had not received any official notification of a court or Justice Ministry decision to block the site.
T24 journalists published the ministry's statement on their own website and noted that the outlet had recently been subjected to a systematic “smear campaign on social media”. As part of this campaign, the portal's authors were accused of publishing content allegedly “targeting the institution of the family.”
Context: raids, the “Decade of the Family,” and Erdoğan's rhetoric
The blocking of one of the country's leading independent media outlets marked a continuation of the intense pressure on Turkey's LGBT community and opposition media:
Several weeks before the T24 decision, Turkish law enforcement carried out a series of raids on gay bars, nightclubs, and activists' homes, issuing arrest warrants for 162 people.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regularly launches scathing attacks on the LGBT community, publicly calling it “a deviant movement” and “perverts”.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek explained that Operation “My Family Is Safe” is being carried out as part of Erdoğan's proclaimed “Decade of the Family”. According to the minister, the initiative aims to “protect children, the institution of the family, and public order.”
Why is this happening right now?
Human rights organizations and activists link the intensification of censorship and repression to the political calendar. Just days before the mass raids and the blocking of T24, Turkish officials officially confirmed that the country would hold snap presidential and parliamentary elections in April 2028.
One of Turkey's leading LGBT activists bluntly told journalists that the large-scale operation against the media and civil society was nothing less than “the de facto launch of the election campaign” by the incumbent government.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Turkish authorities decide to block T24?
Turkey's Ministry of Justice said that over the course of a year, the outlet published 118 articles that officials deemed to contain “LGBT propaganda.” The decision was linked to the “My Family Is Safe” investigation.
Was the T24 website actually shut down?
At the time the ministry's statement was published, the website was still operating. The editorial team said it had not received any official notice of a court or Ministry of Justice decision.
How did T24's editorial team respond to the authorities' statement?
T24 published the ministry's statement on its website and reported that it was the target of a systematic smear campaign on social media. The outlet was accused of publishing content allegedly aimed at undermining the institution of the family.
What is Operation “My Family Is Safe”?
According to Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, the operation is being carried out as part of Erdoğan's declared “Decade of the Family.” Its stated goals are to protect children, the institution of the family, and public order.
What other measures have been taken against the LGBT community in Turkey?
Several weeks before the T24 announcement, security forces raided gay bars, nightclubs, and activists' homes. Arrest warrants were issued for 162 people.
Why do human rights advocates link the blocking of T24 to the elections?
Shortly before the raids and the announcement of the block, the authorities confirmed that early presidential and parliamentary elections would be held in April 2028. One LGBT activist described the operation as the effective launch of the incumbent government's election campaign.
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