The Young LGBTI+ Association, one of the member organizations of the Youth Organizations Forum (GoFor) and a member of GoFor’s Board, has been ordered to be dissolved based on its social media posts. The decision was issued by the İzmir 3rd Civil Court of First Instance. The court assessed the association’s social media content under allegations of ‘obscenity’ and ‘immorality’, claiming that the posts were “encouraging and promoting LGBTI+ identities”. With this decision, for the first time in Türkiye, an LGBTI+ association has been shut down by a court ruling on the grounds of “promoting LGBTI+ identities” and “obscenity.”
The posts cited as grounds for dissolution consist of artistic and informative content shared by the association in previous years. These contents had already been subject to an obscenity investigation, which resulted in a final decision of non-prosecution. Despite this, the court re-evaluated the same content, this time alleging that the association was carrying out activities “contrary to law and morality.” The decision clearly lists the designing and sharing of trans-related visuals as a reason for dissolution.
Relying on content already deemed non-criminal by judicial authorities to dissolve an association is a clear legal contradiction. This decision targets not just one organization, but LGBTI+ people, young people, and the right to organize.
In the court’s reasoning, concepts such as ‘obscenity’, ‘morality’, and ‘encouragement’ are utilized in a loosely defined and open-ended manner. These legally undefined concepts are now being mobilized to target the existence and public visibility of LGBTI+ people. Treating the visibility of trans people and LGBTI+ expression and artistic production as grounds for dissolution is a clear indication of a discriminatory approach.
This decision forms part of the ongoing anti-LGBTI+ policies pursued under the banner of the so-called ‘Year of the Family’. Legislative proposals targeting LGBTI+ communities, which were initially submitted to Parliament and later removed, along with the emphasis on ‘public morality’ in the 11th Judicial Reform Package, are already being implemented in practice despite their formal removal from the Package. Through such practices, the space for civil society is being narrowed, and LGBTI+ people are being systematically pushed out of public life.
We state this clearly:
Being LGBTI+ is not a crime.
The existence of trans people is not obscene.
Freedom of expression and artistic freedom cannot be grounds for dissolution.
The dissolution decision openly violates the freedom of association guaranteed by the Constitution and the international human rights conventions to which Türkiye is a party. We do not accept the use of the law as a tool to advance policies that target civil society and the existence of LGBTI+ people.
As GoFor, our position is clear:
The Young LGBTI+ Association is not alone. We do not recognize this decision, and we clearly state that we will not accept policies aimed at weakening civil society. We call on political parties, members of parliament, bar associations, human rights organizations, and all of civil society to take a clear and firm stand against this unlawful decision.
We stand with the Young LGBTI+ Association.
We stand with LGBTI+ people and with organized struggle.
GoFor
Youth Organizations Forum
