'My Family is Safe' investigations indictment prepared: Imprisonment for 21 people, closure of 6 associations

The "My Family is Safe" investigations carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against LGBTI+ rights defenders and associations have been completed.

Within the scope of 6 separate indictments, a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years was requested for 21 association founders, members and managers, 8 of whom were detained, for the crime of "Opposition to the Law on Associations". In the indictment, it was also requested to decide on the dissolution of the financially responsible associations Pozitif-iz Association, Positive Life Association, LİSTAG Association, HEVİ LGBTI Association, SPOD Association and LAMBDA Association.

In the indictment, it was claimed that the activities of the associations in question towards children were against the law, it was stated that the ability of children in the developmental age to evaluate the content they encounter was not yet developed and mature, and that activities that could affect their privacy and personality development should be carefully examined.

In the indictment, it was stated that the subject of the investigation was not the suspects' personal identities, sexual orientations or their defense of the rights of a certain social segment, but their personal responsibilities in concrete activities carried out under the legal entity of the association.

"FAMILY VALUES ARE BEING DISPLAYED"

In the indictment, it was claimed that "it was understood that the activities carried out by the associations went beyond their founding purposes, that they paved the way for the trivialization of concepts related to sexual orientation and gender, especially among children and young people, and that in this way the values of the Turkish Family structure were disregarded and made questionable, and that special employment models were developed for LGBTI+ individuals and segregation efforts were initiated within the state."

'FUND' CLAIM

Funds sent to associations were also included in the indictment. It was stated that approximately 114 thousand dollars were sent to SPOD on behalf of the US State Department, 220 thousand 500 dollars from Stichting Women Win, and approximately 150 thousand dollars from Rainbow Railroad USA. It was stated that approximately 51 thousand dollars were paid from the Dutch Consulate in Istanbul, and approximately 41 thousand dollars were paid on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in different periods. It was recorded in the indictment that a total of 1 million 570 thousand dollars was sent to the association between 2012 and 2026.

It was recorded in the indictment that between 2018 and 2026, HEVI was paid a total of 763 thousand dollars from other organizations, including 200 thousand dollars from the Wellspring Philanthropic Fund and a total of approximately 242 thousand dollars from two separate registration groups in the name of the European Endowment for Democracy. In the financial records of Lambda covering the period 2012-2026, it was announced in the indictment that a total of 104 thousand dollars was transferred from other organizations, including approximately 50 thousand dollars on behalf of ILGA Europe and 41 thousand dollars from the Dutch Consulate in Istanbul.

It was also stated in the indictment that these funds sent should be examined separately.