10/11/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
LGBTI+ associations from Türkiye, vow to fight "unacceptable" judicial package, citing "serious threats" beyond rumored removal of hate clauses.
A powerful coalition of 15 LGBTI+ organizations from Türkiye has declared it will intensify its fight against the government's controversial "11th Judicial Package," warning the public against "complacency" even as unverified reports claim specific anti-LGBTI+ "hate provisions" have been removed from the draft.
In a joint statement, the rights groups expressed deep skepticism about the claims, suggesting they could be a "deliberate" government tactic "to neutralize public outrage and pacify social opposition."
The statement, signed by all registered organizations, thanked feminist movements, women's organizations, trade unions, and other civil society allies for their "strong and collective response" that reportedly forced the government to reconsider the discriminatory clauses.
However, the activists remain vigilant. "This strong and collective response has once again proven the power of social opposition," the statement read, but it cautioned that "this does not change the anti-democratic intent of the government."
The coalition highlighted that nearly identical hate provisions were previously included in a "10th Judicial Package" and were "postponed only thanks to our struggle and public pressure." They warn that even if the clauses are removed now, the government will likely reintroduce them "under the guise of the 'family year'" or as part of a future constitutional amendment.
Package "Unacceptable" Even Without Hate Clauses
Crucially, the organizations argued that the 11th Judicial Package remains "unacceptable even in its current form," posing "serious threats to society at large."
The statement identifies two other key areas of concern:
- Children's Rights: The package includes regulations concerning "children pushed into crime (CDC)" that the groups argue "do not aim to protect children, but to further criminalize them" and "disregard the principle of the child's best interests."
- Right to Protest: An amendment introduced as a "traffic regulation" is condemned as a disguised attempt to "effectively obstruct the constitutional right to protest and demonstration and suppress street opposition."
The coalition described this as "a step toward silencing not only the voices of LGBTI+ people, but all segments of society seeking their rights and justice."
The 15 signatory organizations have vowed to continue their struggle against the entire package, calling on the public "to remain vigilant against these attacks... to stand shoulder to shoulder, and to strengthen solidarity."
Full Text of the Joint Statement
We Continue Our Fight Against the 11th Judicial Package!
In recent days, we have been following unverified behind-the-scenes news circulating in the media and political circles claiming that the anti-LGBTI+ hate provisions included in the draft bill of what is publicly known as the “11th Judicial Package” have been removed from the draft following widespread public reactions.
First of all, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the feminist organizations and women’s organizations who, from the moment these hate provisions were brought to the agenda, built and amplified the struggle through street protests organized together with LGBTI+ communities; as well as to all animal rights organizations, civil society organizations, trade unions, political parties, human rights defenders, and the wider democratic public who raised their voices against this unlawful attempt through their statements, social media posts, and parliamentary advocacy efforts, defending equality, freedom, justice, and a democratic society. This strong and collective response has once again proven the power of social opposition in achieving concrete victories. The strong and collective response we have witnessed once again proves the power of social opposition in attaining concrete achievements when acted together.
However, based on the government’s previous practices, we know that we must approach these circulating backchannel claims with caution. We are well aware that such claims may be deliberately used by those in power to neutralize public outrage and pacify social opposition. The very same hate provisions were previously brought to the agenda under the name of the “10th Judicial Package” and at that time as well, they were postponed only thanks to our struggle and public pressure. Even if the claims that the anti-LGBTI+ provisions have been removed from the 11th Judicial Package are true, this does not change the anti-democratic intent of the government, nor the fact that it will continue to do everything in its power to legislate these regulations under the guise of the “family year” and through its hateful targeting of the fundamental rights and freedoms of LGBTI+ people.
These circulating claims about the provisions being “removed” should never lead us into complacency. On the contrary, they are a clear sign that we must strengthen and expand our struggle even further. We will not lower our guard against these hate provisions being brought back again in the future as part of another omnibus bill or a constitutional amendment.
The 11th Judicial Package is Unacceptable Even in Its Current Form!
We would also like to underline that even if the explicitly anti-LGBTI+ provisions are removed, the 11th Judicial Package still poses serious threats to society at large through its other anti-democratic regulations and human rights violations, and it remains unacceptable in its current form. The regulations in the package regarding children who are brought into conflict with the law, called "children pushed into crime (CDC)," do not aim to protect children, but to further criminalize them, increase impunity, and disregard the definition of "child" and the principle of the child's best interests. In addition, the amendment introduced under the name of "traffic regulation" aims to effectively obstruct the constitutional right to protest and demonstration and supress street opposition. This is a step toward silencing not only the voices of LGBTI+ people, but all segments of society seeking their rights and justice.
As LGBTI+ organizations undersigned below, we will continue our struggle with determination against this package and all other similar initiatives that target not only LGBTI+ people, but the fundamental rights and freedoms of society, as well as justice and the constitutional order.
We call on the public to remain vigilant against these attacks targeting our hard-won rights and freedoms, to stand shoulder to shoulder, and to strengthen solidarity.
Respectfully announced to the public.
Signatories:
- 17 May Association
- 20 November Association for Combating Hate Crimes
- Ankara Rainbow Families Association (GALADER)
- Young LGBTI+ Association
- HEVI LGBTI+ Association
- KAOS GL Association
- Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association
- LambdaIstanbul LGBTI+ Solidarity Association
- Association of Families and Friends of LGBTI+ in Turkey
- Mersin 7 Colour LGBTI+ Association
- Muamma LGBTI+ Association
- Free Colours Association
- Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association
- SPoD
- UniKuir Association
Tags: human rights
