03/11/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Women and LGBTI+ people raised their voices in 18 street demonstrations, declaring: “No to the judicial package that targets women, children, and LGBTI+ people!”
Reactions continue against the 11th Judicial Package, which contains anti-LGBTI+ regulations. Women and LGBTI+ people came together in demonstrations held across 5 districts and 13 cities, calling for the package not to be brought to parliament.
Messages of solidarity also rose from Elazığ, Malatya, Dersim, Antakya, Didim, Fethiye, Datça, Kuşadası, and Bodrum.
KaosGL.org compiled the street protests held against the judicial package.
Ankara
In Ankara, women and LGBTI+ people gathered to protest the 11th Judicial Package. Police detained one person through torture and attacked the trans flag. They attempted to prevent the march of women and LGBTI+ people. Police also tried to stop journalists from recording; police officers assaulted ÜniKuir volunteer and journalist İbrahim Türk. As a result of the police attack, one person’s finger was crushed and another’s was broken. The detained person was released after giving a statement. Women and LGBTI+ people overcame all obstacles and marched from Kolej Metro to Sakarya, where they read their press statement.
Istanbul
In Istanbul, women and LGBTI+ people gathered at Kadıköy Pier to protest the 11th Judicial Package. Before the protest began, police surrounded the area and blockaded the participants. The Kadıköy District Governor’s Office banned the demonstration, claiming it would “cause public outrage,” “offend national, human, and moral values,” “threaten social peace,” and serve as a “propaganda gathering.” Women and LGBTI+ people objected to the ban. Two people were reported detained. When women and LGBTI+ people asked for the names of the detained, police tightened the blockade. Police forces flooded the area. Despite all obstacles, women and LGBTI+ people marched in Beşiktaş against the judicial package.
The two detained individuals were subjected to strip searches. The Civil Rights Campaign Group made a statement at the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch, declaring: “We will continue to stand in solidarity against sexual violence!”
Izmir
In Izmir, women and LGBTI+ people gathered at Karşıyaka Pier and marched to İZBAN to protest the 11th Judicial Package. The press statement read: “We are warning you, don’t even think about bringing the 11th Judicial Package to parliament.”
In the statement, women and LGBTI+ people emphasized that expressions such as “contrary to public morality,” “not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex assigned at birth,” and “obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles” broadened the definitions of crime and criminal, making them open to arbitrary interpretation.
Bursa
In Bursa, women and LGBTI+ people gathered against the 11th Judicial Package. The police attempted to block the march, claiming it was unauthorized. Despite all obstacles, women and LGBTI+ people marched and read their statement.
Their statement read:
“These regulations aim to suppress women, LGBTI+ people, all dissenting voices, and free thought. They represent an increasing level of state control over everyone’s identity, body, and life. Through these measures, our love, our identity, and our way of life are being criminalized; our right to decide over our bodies and health is being restricted.”
Antalya
In Antalya, women and LGBTI+ people gathered at Attalos Square upon the call of the Antalya Women’s Platform and read their press statement. The statement, read by lawyer Tuğçe Duru from the Antalya Bar Association, declared:
“The 11th Judicial Package is a hate bill. It is a step in the regime of repression and imposition. It is an attempt to suppress the strongest and most defiant women’s struggle against the patriarchal mindset and language.”
Dersim
The Dersim Women’s Platform protested the 11th Judicial Package. According to Caner Aktan’s report, the members of the platform gathered at Sanat Street. Speaking on behalf of the platform, BES Women’s Secretary Elif Yıldız stated that the government’s goal with this regulation is to further shrink the already limited living spaces of women, LGBTI+ people, and children.
Yıldız said that with this judicial package, those who fight for their rights are being portrayed as potential criminals:
“In the draft, people who ‘act contrary to their biological sex assigned at birth and public morality’ and those who ‘hold engagement or marriage ceremonies between people of the same sex’ are to be criminalized. This is an open attack on the existence of LGBTI+ individuals. We are facing an understanding that could consider even a woman cutting her hair short a crime.”
Bodrum
In Bodrum, women and LGBTI+ people gathered at Bodrum Municipality Square upon the call of the Bodrum Women’s Platform. The platform stated that the regulations in the judicial package target the right to life of women, LGBTI+ people, and children.
The statement read:
“With expressions such as ‘public morality,’ ‘biological sex,’ and ‘obstruction of transportation vehicles,’ the rights of women, LGBTI+ people, and children are being criminalized. After the overnight withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, our constitutional rights are now being targeted. We will not allow it! Our struggle for the equal, free, and safe right to life for women, lubunyas, and children will continue. We are not afraid, we will not be silent, we will not give up!”
Fethiye
In Fethiye, women and LGBTI+ people gathered in front of the Fethiye Cultural Center to oppose the 11th Judicial Package, chanting slogans such as “Trans people exist, shout out!” and “Where are you, my love? I’m here, my love!”
Gathered upon the call of the Fethiye Women’s Counseling and Solidarity Center, they read a statement saying:
“The recently publicized 11th Judicial Package introduces an overly broad definition of crime and criminal, including expressions such as ‘contrary to public morality,’ ‘not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex assigned at birth,’ and ‘obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles,’ extending even to punishing children aged 15-18 as adults. With this new judicial package, the government is making life increasingly difficult for women and LGBTI+ people. We are in the streets today to say no to the 11th Judicial Package.”
Adana
In Adana, women and LGBTI+ people gathered upon the call of the Adana Women’s Platform and made a press statement emphasizing that the judicial package targets women, LGBTI+ people, and children.
The statement recalled the anti-LGBTI+ changes proposed to the Civil Code and Penal Code, noting that trans people’s right to bodily autonomy is being stripped away:
“With the proposed amendments to the Civil Code and Penal Code, the gender transition process is becoming nearly impossible. The age limit is raised from 18 to 25, and the conditions previously annulled by the Constitutional Court are being reintroduced. This means taking away an individual’s right to decide over their own body. The addition of the phrase ‘obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles’ to Article 223 of the Penal Code seeks to eliminate the constitutional right to assembly and demonstration by creating a new category of crime.”
Antakya
In Antakya, women and LGBTI+ people gathered in front of Necmi Asfuroğlu High School to protest the judicial package containing anti-LGBTI+ regulations.
In the press statement read by Women Are Stronger Together, it was said:
“The recently publicized 11th Judicial Package introduces an overly broad definition of crime and criminal, including expressions such as ‘contrary to public morality,’ ‘not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex assigned at birth,’ and ‘obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles,’ extending even to punishing children aged 15–18 as adults. With this new judicial package, the government is making life increasingly difficult for women and LGBTI+ people. We are in the streets today to say no to the 11th Judicial Package.
So far, we have stopped life, blocked roads, and defended our lives against femicides, the overnight withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and male-dominated justice. We will not give up any of our hard-won rights!”
Didim
In Didim, women and LGBTI+ people took to the streets upon the call of the Didim Kibele Women’s Association.
Mersin
In Mersin, women and LGBTI+ people gathered in front of Koton in Pozcu to protest the judicial package containing anti-LGBTI+ provisions.
Police forces flooded the area. Police attempted to detain one person, but women and LGBTI+ people prevented the arrest. Police also tried to confiscate LGBTI+ flags, calling them “criminal elements.” Police seized the placards of women and LGBTI+ people who had not yet entered the protest area and tore their banner.
Despite all these efforts to obstruct the protest, the press statement was read:
“Living in safe spaces is everyone’s right. This bill, which will affect all segments of society, cannot be brought to parliament. We object to the forced marriage of 16 year olds, to their being tried as adults, to their being exploited as child laborers, and to forcing someone to wait until 25 to make decisions about their own body. Today, we are calling out to everyone: We will not allow the rights we have won through our struggles to be taken away. Let’s stand together against the anti-people 11th Judicial Package.”
Datça
In Datça, women and LGBTI+ people gathered in front of the Berkin Elvan Monument to protest the judicial package containing anti-LGBTI+ provisions.
In the statement read by the Datça Women’s Platform, it was said:
“With the new judicial package draft, the government seeks to make the already shrinking lives of women, LGBTI+ people, youth, and children even harder. The 11th Judicial Package includes an overly broad definition of crime and criminal, covering expressions such as ‘contrary to public morality,’ ‘not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex assigned at birth,’ and ‘obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles,’ extending even to punishing children aged 15-18 as adults. We are in the streets today to say no to the 11th Judicial Package.”
Kuşadası
Upon the call of the Kuşadası Women’s Platform, women and LGBTI+ people gathered in front of Denizbank to protest the 11th Judicial Package, which is planned to be submitted to parliament.
Beren Özavcı read the statement on behalf of the platform:
“This proposal is not merely about clothing; it is an intervention into lifestyles and identities. This text is the product of a medieval mindset.
If this proposal becomes law, ‘childhood’ will effectively be abolished legally. It will pave the way for the legitimization of child marriages.
We will fight together for an equal, free, and just life. We will win! Do not touch our lives, our identities, our bodies!”
Kocaeli
The Kocaeli Women’s Platform made a press statement at Sabri Yalım Park to protest the 11th Judicial Package.
Rabia Çimen spoke first, stating that the 11th Judicial Package does not bring justice but instead targets the rights of women, children, and LGBTI+ people. She added that the aim of the package is to deny diverse lives, identities, and genders, making society uniform, obedient, and silent.
Speaking afterward on behalf of the platform, Aynur Işık said:
“The government is once again staging the same play. The so-called ‘justice reform’ presented to parliament as the 11th Judicial Package does not bring justice; on the contrary, it targets the rights of women, children, and LGBTI+ people. This package is not a reform, it is an outright ideological attack. Its aim is to deny diverse lives, identities, and genders, and to make society uniform, obedient, and silent.
As the Kocaeli Women’s Platform, we say once again: the women, children, and LGBTI+ people of this country will not bow to this package. We will not give up our lives, our bodies, or our identities. Our struggle will continue until equality, freedom, and justice are achieved. Until this law, this order, and this mentality change, we will continue to be in the streets, in public squares, and in every part of life. Withdraw the 11th Judicial Package.”
Elazığ
Upon the call of the Elazığ Women’s Platform, women and LGBTI+ people gathered at the post office square and read a statement.
Speaking on behalf of the platform, Dilan Gültekin recalled the anti-LGBTI+ provisions in the judicial package, noting that expressions such as “contrary to public morality,” “not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex assigned at birth,” and “obstructing the movement of transportation vehicles” introduce an overly broad definition of crime and criminal, including punishing children aged 15-18 as adults. Gültekin stated that the existence of LGBTI+ people is explicitly targeted. She emphasized that under such regulations, even a woman cutting her hair short could be deemed guilty of “promoting” or “encouraging” acts contrary to “public morality.”
Gültekin also addressed the amendments to the child justice system, noting that replacing the phrase “a reduction in sentence shall be applied” with “a reduction in sentence may be applied” in cases of intentional homicide paves the way for children to be punished as adults.
Aydın
In Aydın, women and LGBTI+ people took to the streets upon the call of the Aydın Women’s Solidarity Platform. In their press statement at Aydın City Square, they said:
“The government seeks to raise the age for gender transition from 18 to 25. The condition of being ‘permanently deprived of reproductive ability,’ previously annulled by the Constitutional Court, is being reintroduced. The draft proposes that applicants may receive psychological and medical support only at hospitals designated by the Ministry of Health. They do not even want to grant trans people the right to receive the medical care they need.
While those who begin the gender affirmation process before the age of 25 face penalties, healthcare professionals involved in the process face imprisonment from 3 to 7 years. With these vague and arbitrary articles, dependent on government policies and left to judicial discretion, LGBTI+ existence and our struggle for an equal, free, and dignified life are being attacked. We will not allow the legitimization of hate.”
“We object to the forced marriage of 16 year olds, to their being tried as adults, to their being exploited as child laborers, and to forcing someone to wait until 25 to make decisions about their own body. Today, we are calling out to everyone: We will not allow the rights we have won through our struggles to be taken away. Don’t even think about bringing the 11th Judicial Package to parliament!”
Malatya
In Malatya, women and LGBTI+ people gathered upon the call of the Malatya Democratic Women’s Platform to protest the 11th Judicial Package containing anti-LGBTI+ regulations.
The press statement read:
“Including the phrase ‘not acting in accordance with one’s biological sex’ within the definition of crime constitutes a serious violation of gender equality and individual freedoms. Moreover, discussions around raising the age for gender transition pose the risk of obstructing trans people’s access to health and identity rights. In its current form, this draft contains provisions that are deeply concerning for fundamental rights and freedoms, social equality, and freedom of expression. Certain terms in the draft, such as contrary to public morality, not acting in accordance with biological sex, and disturbing public order, are vague and open to interpretation.”
Tags: human rights, women, life, family, trans, lgbti
