Although same-sex couples do not have the right to marry, the first same-sex marriage in Turkey occurred in Istanbul on 2 September 2014.

According to Amnesty International, government officials often target individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community due to their sexual orientation, causing harassment that creates difficulties in accessing public services such as housing and employment support. Amnesty International Report. Additionally, the Turkish Red Crescent does not accept blood donations from gay men, as they are classified as a high-risk group for blood donations. Read the Turkish Red Crescent’s stance. According to a report submitted to the Human Rights Committee, there has been a series of human rights violations against individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community in Turkey, including a statement from the Minister of State for Women and Family Affairs in March 2010, calling homosexuality a “biological disorder” and a “disease.” Human Rights Committee Shadow Report 2012.

Istanbul has the largest number of transgender women in Turkey, and authorities have gradually forced transgender women out of certain areas using urban renewal projects, such as Cabinet Decision 2006/10172, published in the Official Gazette on 28 March 2006. This decision grants local authorities special powers to seize buildings. Cabinet Decision 2006/10172.

A report titled “Safe Haven?” published by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and ORAM, indicates that LGBTQIA+ refugees in Turkey face violence and discrimination in the workplace, lack of access to healthcare, barriers to social assistance, and hostile educational environments. Additionally, LGBTQIA+ refugees in Turkey face violence and harassment from local residents. Unsafe Haven Report.

According to several reports on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a number of hate crimes have been committed against the LGBTQIA+ community in Turkey. These crimes were highlighted in detail in the 2013 ILGA Europe Annual Report. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community have reported to Amnesty International that they do not trust the authorities’ protection mechanisms and find that crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are not prosecuted. In 2008, Ahmet Yıldız was murdered by his father, Yahya Yıldız. The media referred to the case as “Turkey’s first gay honor killing,” but this should not divert attention from the fact that many others have died unnoticed by the public. The case of Ahmet Yıldız highlights the state’s failure to respond to violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Ahmet Yıldız filed a criminal complaint requesting protection due to threats from family members, but the authorities ignored it. ILGA Europe Annual Report 2013.

Additionally, violations of human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity have been documented in a report available here.

A 2008 Human Rights Watch report provides detailed accounts of homophobic violence and discrimination by police officials.  Gay men suffer repeated harassment. Lesbian and bisexual women fear family violence in reaction to their alleged violation of ‘honour’ and ‘custom’. Transgender people experience state violence, abuse, and harassment, as emphasized in a report on Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Undercover police officers belonging to the Balyoz (Hammer) Team behave violently towards transgender individuals.

There are a number of NGOs supporting LGBTI persons in Türkiye. The Helsinki Citizens Assembly is the leading NGO on issues concerning LGBTI asylum-seekers and refugees in Türkiye. Kaos GL (Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Researches and Solidarity Association) is a Turkish LGBT rights organization based in Ankara. The organisation provides legal assistance to LGBT asylum seekers and helps in promoting the rights and informing the public about issues related to LGBT rights. Lambda Istanbul is an LGBT rights organization located in Istanbul. The organisation  supports LGBT migrants and asylum seekers, and advocates for issues concerning LGBT rights. LGBTI News Turkey is a group of volunteer translators dedicated to providing English translations and sources on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) issues in Türkiye for journalists, activists, scholars, and the general public.

Halat v. Turkey, Application No. 23607/08, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 8 Nov 2011. This is a case about a trans woman who suffered physical and psychological abuse by a police officer. After eight years of judicial proceedings the judges ruled that Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was violated in regards to ineffective investigation carried out by the investigative officers.

X v. Turkey, Application No.24626/09, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 9 October 2012. This is a case about a homosexual prisoner who was kept in isolation for nearly a year, allegedly in order to protect other inmates. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Article 3 ECHR was violated. This was the first time in ECHR history that Article 3 was used in relation to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

MS (Risk – Homosexual) Turkey v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, CG [2002] UKIAT 05654, United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority, 6 December 2002. This appeal was dismissed and the appellant returned to Türkiye. The Tribunal found that there may be a risk of discrimination but no real threat of persecution to the appellant when returned to Türkiye, despite the evidence that the police subjected him to rape. This case is no longer regarded as providing country guidance.

RRT Case No. 1208496, [2012] RRTA 1144, Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal, 24 December 2012. This is the case of a gay applicant subjected to serious assault on him and his partner by the community, police officers, family and friends, forcing them to flee to Australia. The Tribunal was satisfied with the credibility of the evidence proving his sexual orientation, and found that the applicant would not be safe in any area of Türkiye if returned. Thus, the Tribunal granted the applicant protection under the Refugee Convention.  

Erduran v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) , 2011 FC 1287, Canada: Federal Court, 10 November 2011 This is the case of a Turkish citizen who claimed protection on several grounds. Firstly, he feared persecution due to his refusal to join the military service in Türkiye. Secondly, he feared persecution due to his sexual orientation, and thirdly due to his Kurdish identity.

KAOS GL v. Turkey, Case No 4982/07, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights This case concerns the seizure of the LGBT-magazine KAOS GL. The authorities prosecuted the editor, claiming that the publication was obscene according to the Turkish Criminal Code. However, the applicants argued that their rights to freedom of speech and prohibition of discrimination were being violated under Article 10 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, University of California Berkeley School of Law and Human Rights Watch intervened to raise concerns regarding the obligations of states to protect the rights of LGBTI people in accordance with Article 10 of the ECHR.