25/02/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek answered questions from parliament reporters today after the AKP group meeting.
Parliament reporters asked Justice Minister Akın Gürlek about claims that anti-LGBTI+ regulations will be brought back onto the agenda. Gürlek said preparations for the 12th Judicial Package are ongoing.
According to reporting by ANKA Haber Ajansı, Gürlek responded to a question about the anti-LGBTI+ provisions that were included in the 11th Judicial Package but later withdrawn after public backlash. He said:
“Deviant movements, the encouragement of degendering young people, websites set up on social media about this, our general approach to these matters is clear, as they undermine society’s general morality… Of course, we are working on these issues, but it is still in the drafting stage. However, they are in our plans.”
What happened?
In recent days, it has been claimed that the anti-LGBTI+ regulations removed from the 11th Judicial Package will be reintroduced. The provisions, which would have criminalized LGBTI+ existence, were taken out of the package following strong public reactions.
According to Türkiye Gazetesi, amendments to the Civil Code and the Turkish Penal Code are being planned. The justification of the draft prepared by the Ministry of Justice cites the protection of the family institution, preventing “attacks” on society’s “general morality and values,” and an “effective struggle” against “uniformity and degendering movements.”
Under the draft, the minimum age for gender-affirming surgery would be raised to 25, and individuals would be required to apply to a court to obtain permission for the procedure. Those who perform a “gender change operation in violation of the law” would face prison sentences ranging from three to seven years, along with judicial fines.
The draft further proposes prison sentences of one to three years for anyone who acts “in a manner contrary to one’s sex assigned at birth and general morality,” or who openly encourages, praises, or promotes such conduct. It also stipulates prison sentences ranging from one year and six months to four years for same-sex couples who hold engagement or wedding ceremonies.
Tags: human rights, women, media, life, family, trans, lgbti
