12/12/2025 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The prosecutor claimed that the association engaged in activities “encouraging and inducing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite or transsexual conduct,” while the court cited “designing trans-themed visual content” as the justification for its closure.
The Young LGBTI+ Association, operating in İzmir, was shut down on the grounds of “obscenity,” citing its social media posts as justification.
In 2024, during inspections targeting LGBTI+ associations, the association’s social media accounts were retrospectively examined. The posts shared on social media were classified as “obscene” in the inspection report.
After the inspection report was submitted to the prosecutor’s office, an obscenity investigation was launched against the association in February. The investigation, opened on the grounds of obscenity, resulted in a decision of non-prosecution, which became final in August.
Reason: “Inducing and encouraging”
Alongside the obscenity investigation, a closure lawsuit was also filed against the association.In the closure case, the prosecutor claimed that the social media posts violated moral values and Article 41 of the Constitution, titled “Protection of the Family and Children’s Rights”:
“That the said posts contained obscene images and were viewed by many people, thereby reaching wide audiences; that these posts could direct individuals in society toward behaviors that induce and encourage lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, or transsexual conduct; and that these posts were not in compliance with the moral values of society and Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey…”
Additionally, it was alleged that the association carried out activities that were not in line with the objectives and areas of work stated in its statute, and that it violated the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code regulating associations as well as the Law on Associations. On these grounds, its closure was requested.
Lawyers demanded the case be dismissed
In its defense, the association stated that “sharing images that are clearly not obscene and responding with a closure lawsuit constitutes a disproportionate interference,” emphasizing that the case represented a violation of freedom of expression. The association requested the dismissal of the lawsuit.“Designing trans-themed visual content” used as justification for closure
As a result of the closure case, İzmir 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance ruled for the association’s dissolution.In the reasoned decision, the court stated that the association “designed or obtained from others and shared images depicting male and female sexual organs, obscene visuals of individuals of two different sexes, and trans-themed visual content” on its social media accounts; these statements formed the basis for the closure ruling.
It was concluded that the association had become contrary to law and morality.
“This decision cannot erase our existence or our determination”
The association said the following in its statement:“This decision cannot put an end to either our existence or our determination to fight. It is possible for us to emerge from this process not only strengthening our association, but also our movement and the human rights movement as a whole. The dissolution lawsuit filed against our association, along with the parallel legal processes, will not cause us to abandon our rights. We will pursue all available legal remedies against this dissolution decision, which disregards the Constitution and the international conventions to which Türkiye is a party. We call on the entire public to object to this purge targeting the LGBTI+ movement and civil society through the Young LGBTI+ Association, to collectively resist this process of judicial harassment, and to stand in solidarity with us.”
Here is the full statement:
On 11 December 2025, the 3rd Civil Court of First Instance of İzmir ruled a decision ordering the dissolution of the Young LGBTI+ Association, in violation of the Constitution and the international guarantees protecting the freedom of association. In the Türkiye judiciary, where the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time is the biggest cause of violations of the right to a fair trial according to Constitutional Court rulings, the Court unusually sent its reasoned decision to the UYAP system on the same day. As this decision will not become final unless it is upheld by higher courts upon our appeal, it does not, at present, produce any legal consequences regarding our association’s activities or the existence of its governing bodies. However, it represents a serious setback for freedom of association and the scope of civil society’s activities. Amendments made in recent years to the Law on Associations, together with the intensive administrative inspections imposed on our association, have laid the groundwork for the conditions that led to this point. In 2024, despite the fact that the Young LGBTI+ Association had already been inspected in previous audits, inspectors conducted a retrospective review of our social media accounts. As a result of this review, they issued a report alleging that five artistic works constituted “obscenity” and filed a criminal complaint with the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Subsequently, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated a dissolution lawsuit against our association. The use of the “obscenity” assessment of five illustrations shared as part of an online exhibition on our social media accounts during the COVID-19 period as grounds for dissolution poses a serious problem in terms of freedom of expression and artistic freedom.
In the reasoning of the court’s dissolution decision, the assertion that “the posts in question had reached wide audiences and could encourage and promote individuals in society towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite or transsexual orientations, and that these posts were allegedly incompatible with the moral values of society and Article 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye”, demonstrates that anti-LGBTI+ provisions removed from the 11th Judicial Reform Package are being applied in practice despite not having been enacted into law. This once again confirms how accurate the concern has been that such discriminatory measures do not need to be formally adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly in order to be enforced against civil society and the LGBTI+ community as a whole. This constitutes yet another example of attempts to socially engineer society through the judiciary, in violation of constitutional guarantees.
While the dissolution case was ongoing, a decision of non-prosecution was issued, concluding that the posts in question did not constitute obscenity, and this decision has become final. Despite the final non-prosecution decision, expert opinions, and the fact that the same content had previously been inspected without giving rise to any administrative or judicial action, the court nevertheless ruled for the dissolution of the association, rendering the case entirely groundless. Our freedom of association, our right to exist, and our right to equal citizenship are being taken away. No decision, no court ruling can erase our existence. Those who believe that this decision will weaken our movement will see that solidarity and the collective struggle for rights will continue with far greater strength. This dissolution decision, which is the product of hate policies sought to be legitimized through the concept of the “family,” once again demonstrates that the Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye and the international conventions to which it is a party have effectively been suspended. This decision also provides a concrete example to international and regional human rights mechanisms that are constantly seeking tangible cases, and it demonstrates the Republic of Türkiye’s determination to disregard its international obligations. NOW IS THE TIME FOR SOLIDARITY This decision cannot put an end to either our existence or our determination to fight. It is possible for us to emerge from this process not only strengthening our association, but also our movement and the human rights movement as a whole. The dissolution lawsuit filed against our association, along with the parallel legal processes, will not cause us to abandon our rights. We will pursue all available legal remedies against this dissolution decision, which disregards the Constitution and the international conventions to which Türkiye is a party. We call on the entire public to object to this purge targeting the LGBTI+ movement and civil society through the Young LGBTI+ Association, to collectively resist this process of judicial harassment, and to stand in solidarity with us.
Tags: human rights, media, trans, lgbti, lezbiyen, gey, biseksüel, interseks
