Turkey arrests LGBTQ activist after speech to the Council of Europe
The Turkish youth delegate to the Council of Europe and LGBTI+ activist, Enes Hocaoğulları, was arrested upon his return at Ankara Airport. The arrest took place on August 5. Turkish authorities accuse him of defamation for speaking out during a Council of Europe address against the arrests of several Turkish mayors.
On March 19, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he was detained on charges of corruption. Within days, he was expected to be nominated by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) as its presidential candidate for the upcoming election.
Enes Hocaoğulları is a youth activist and international relations coordinator at ÜniKuir, an Ankara-based association advocating for the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people within Turkish universities. Turkish authorities claim that Enes “spread misleading information” and “incited public hatred” after, in his speech before the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, he denounced police violence and the arrest of elected mayors back home. His remarks quickly became the target of a coordinated smear campaign, portraying him and his organisation ÜniKuir as agents of “moral corruption” and “foreign influence.” The public prosecutor alleges that Enes’s statements “damaged Turkey’s international reputation.”
Enes’s case is being closely monitored by European institutions and human rights organisations. According to ILGA-Europe, the court has accepted the indictment and confirmed his arrest, rejecting his lawyers’ appeal. His first hearing is scheduled for September 8, and he will remain in detention until then. He is currently being held in Sincan Prison in Ankara.
Enes’s arrest comes amid an escalation of anti-LGBTI+ measures in Turkey. Following the declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” the government has introduced new laws restricting access to trans healthcare, censoring LGBTI+ content, and targeting queer student organisations. His arrest must be seen as part of this broader campaign against LGBTI+ rights.
Dit artikel is ook beschikbaar in het Nederlands en Frans
De Turkse jongerenafgevaardigde bij de Raad van Europa en LGBTI+-activist Enes Hocao?ullar? is bij zijn terugkeer op 5 augustus op de luchthaven van Ankara gearresteerd. Hij wordt door de Turkse autoriteiten verdacht van smaad omdat hij zich tijdens een toespraak voor de Raad van Europa uitsprak tegen de arrestaties van verschillende Turkse burgemeesters. Op 19 maart kwamen honderdduizenden betogers op straat om te protesteren tegen de arrestatie van de burgemeester van Istanboel, Ekrem ?mamo?lu. De belangrijkste politieke rivaal van de Turkse president Recep Tayyip Erdo?an werd opgepakt op beschuldiging van corruptie. Hij stond op het punt om binnen enkele dagen...
Le délégué de la jeunesse turc auprès du Conseil de l’Europe et militant LGBTI+, Enes Hocao?ullar?, a été arrêté à son retour à l’aéroport d’Ankara. L’arrestation a eu lieu le 5 août. Les autorités turques le soupçonnent de diffamation pour avoir, lors d’un discours devant le Conseil de l’Europe, dénoncé l’arrestation de plusieurs maires turcs. Le 19 mars, des centaines de milliers de manifestants sont descendus dans les rues pour protester contre l’arrestation du maire d’Istanbul, Ekrem ?mamo?lu. Principal rival politique du président turc Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, il a été arrêté pour corruption présumée. Il devait, quelques jours plus tard,...
