'My Family is Safe' operations are on the agenda of the Parliament: One question after another to Akın Gürlek!

Labor Party (EMEP) Gaziantep Deputy Sevda Karaca brought to the agenda of the Parliament the trial processes of rights defenders who were detained and arrested during the operations carried out under the name "My Family is Safe" and the rights violations they allegedly experienced in prisons.

PROPOSAL OF QUESTIONS FROM KARACA

EMEP Gaziantep Deputy Sevda Karaca submitted a written question to the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding the operations launched on September 12 and announced to the public under the name "My Family is Safe", requesting the Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek to answer.

Karaca stated that at least 117 people were detained in five provinces within the scope of the operations, 44 human rights defenders were among those detained and at least 83 people were arrested.

In his motion, Karaca included the allegations that the rights of the defense lawyers to examine the file were restricted during the trial process, that lawyers were prevented from representing more than one suspect in Ankara on the grounds of "conflict of interest", and that biological samples were forcibly taken from the suspects without a judge's order.

Karaca argued that it was documented that the arrested people were subjected to various rights violations in the Sincan, Marmara, Metris, Mersin and Izmir prisons to which they were transferred.

In the proposal, Karaca included allegations such as naked examination, prisoners being forced to lie on the floor and alternately due to overcapacity, isolation in a solitary cell, denial of access to clean water, hygiene materials and medicines, and also brought to the agenda the reports that they were subjected to discrimination and ill-treatment due to their sexual orientation and HIV status.

In the proposal, the circular stated that the Ministry of Justice sent to 81 provincial chief prosecutors' offices on September 14, 2026 was also brought to the agenda. Karaca stated that the way for the criminalization of rights advocacy was paved through the concepts of "general morality" and "desexualization" included in the circular.

Karaca asked for clarification as to what legal equivalent the phrase "encouraging asexualization" in the circular has in the Turkish Penal Code.

In addition, Karaca asked about the ministry's evaluation of the allegations that judicial pressure was exerted on associations and non-governmental activities through the circular.

ASKED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF RESTRICTIONS ON LAWYERS' RIGHT TO DEFENSE

In his motion, Karaca also brought forward the allegations of restricting the suspects' meetings with their lawyers and preventing more than one suspect from being represented by the same lawyer in Ankara.

Asking whether these practices are compatible with the freedom to seek justice and the right to a fair trial guaranteed in Article 36 of the Constitution, Karaca asked for an explanation of what concrete and personalized evidence the 83 arrested people were based on.

Karaca also asked under which legal legislation the statute activities and declared funds of legally operating associations are considered evidence of crime.

The motion also included allegations about taking blood, urine and hair samples from suspects who were not facing any charges related to drug or stimulant use.

Karaca asked what the legal basis of these procedures was, whether they were carried out in accordance with Article 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and which authorities made the decisions to take samples.

Karaca also brought to the agenda the access to health services of trans women and men in prisons, individuals living with HIV and detainees with chronic diseases, and asked for it to be clarified whether these detainees have full access to their regular treatments, prescription drugs and physicians.