From ‘public morality’ to ‘My Family Is Safe’: 20 years of repression against Kaos GL

BianetIndependentProgressive20 hr. ago

Selin Berghan, a member of the supervisory board of the Turkish LGBTI+ organization Kaos GL, was arrested as part of a government operation called 'My Family Is Safe' that targets LGBTI+ groups and activists. From prison, Berghan described their detention as part of the ongoing fight for gender freedom and expressed pride in bearing the cost of activism, calling it a 'badge of honor.' The operation, which began on September 13, led to the arrest of more than 80 individuals, many of whom are rights advocates, on charges such as obscenity and prostitution-related offenses. Kaos GL, which has been active since 1994, has faced increasing repression, especially after the government designated 2025 as the 'Year of the Family.' The organization's website content was reportedly used as evidence against its members.

Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights the arrest of an activist from an LGBTI+ organization under charges related to 'public morality,' which is often used in Turkey to suppress dissenting voices. The framing emphasizes the political nature of these arrests, portraying them as part of a broader campaign against LG

BianetIndependentCenter21 hr. ago

A recent Constitutional Court ruling in Turkey addressed the violation of freedom of expression and the press for several individuals and organizations, including the group Kaos GL, which has faced ongoing legal challenges over the past two decades. The court referenced a 2016 European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) precedent involving Kaos GL, highlighting continued repression against the group. Kaos GL, an LGBTI+ advocacy organization, has been repeatedly targeted through vague legal actions, such as charges of 'obscenity' based on social media content and alleged violations of public morality. These charges echo earlier incidents, like the 2006 seizure of a Kaos GL magazine issue containing discussions on sexuality and pornography, which led to legal proceedings against its president, Umut Güner. Despite being acquitted in 2007, the ruling was not fully upheld until 2012, reflecting the prolonged struggle of Kaos GL against state repression.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of legal rulings and historical repression against Kaos GL, citing both domestic and international legal references. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or editorializing. The focus is on documenting the legal battles and their long