Amnesty calls on Turkey to drop charges against 11 LGBTQ+ activists

Amnesty International has urged Turkish authorities to dismiss charges brought against 11 LGBTQ+ activists from the İzmir-based Young LGBTI+ Association, warning that the case represents an unlawful attack on freedom of expression and association. 

The activists - including Emirhan Şaşmaz, Kerem Dikmen and nine fellow board members - are facing prosecution after the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment on 28 October 2025, accusing them of violating Turkey’s Law on Associations and Article 41 of the constitution, which relates to the protection of the family and children’s rights. The case centres on five artistic designs shared on the association’s social media channels between 2019 and 2022, which authorities deemed “obscene”. The first hearing is scheduled for 8 April.

Amnesty argues that the allegations of obscenity, combined with vague morality-based laws, amount to an illegitimate attempt to suppress LGBTQ+ advocacy. It notes that similar claims were previously investigated and dismissed when prosecutors issued a decision of non-prosecution in August 2025. The organisation has launched a public campaign and online petition calling for the charges to be dropped and for Turkey to comply with its international human rights obligations.

In a related development, the İzmir 3rd Court of First Instance ordered the closure of the Young LGBTI+ Association in December 2025 - a ruling the group has appealed. Human rights organisations across Turkey have condemned both the prosecution and the closure, arguing that they criminalise civil society work and infringe on fundamental freedoms.

Turkey’s restrictive climate for LGBTQ+ rights has drawn increasing international criticism. The country ranked 47th out of 49 in the 2025 Rainbow Index, placing it among the lowest in Europe with regard to LGBTQ+ equality and protections.