Fridae

Prosecutors in Istanbul have asked a court to close SPoD, an LGBTQ+ rights association. The group and other rights organisations disclosed the request on 10 November and said the case would be heard on 18 November at Istanbul’s Çağlayan courthouse.

The indictment is dated 2 November. Prosecutors are also seeking penalties for four of the association’s founders under Türkiye’s Law on Associations. Two were in pretrial detention when the groups issued their statement. The Human Rights Foundation of Türkiye said, citing local reports, that Istanbul’s 27th Criminal Court of First Instance had accepted the indictment.

According to ILGA-Europe, prosecutors allege that SPoD went beyond its stated purpose and cite the group’s reports, events and support work. Kaos GL reported that prosecutors also cited SPoD’s stated aim of developing equal-employment models for LGBTQ+ people. SPoD and the other signatories called for the dissolution request to be withdrawn.

The case follows a nationwide operation that began on 12 September. UN experts urged Türkiye to end that operation in October and let LGBTQ+ rights groups carry on their work. Türkiye’s Justice Ministry said in September that the operation was intended to protect children, families and public order.