The Turkish Government’s approach towards LGBTQ+ people has raised serious concerns about the country’s HIV response and the ability of advocacy groups to support communities affected by HIV.
In the early hours of Sept 13, Turkish police reportedly raided gay bars as well as the offices and homes of LGBTQ+ and HIV activists and advocates across Türkiye. In the days before the raids, websites belonging to several advocacy and support organisations in the country had also been blocked. These developments come amid a decade-long period of increasing pressure on LGBTQ+ communities under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. Beyond concerns about LGBTQ+ rights, the crackdown could create additional challenges for HIV prevention and support efforts at a time when reported HIV and AIDS cases in Türkiye have been increasing.
Türkiye occupies an important geographic position in Eurasia, bordering regions that include Europe to the west, the eastern Mediterranean to the south and east, and central Asia to the north and east. Countries across these regions face different HIV epidemics and have developed different responses shaped by social attitudes and political priorities. Infectious diseases, however, are not limited by national borders. The situation has therefore raised wider questions about HIV prevention, access to community support and the rights of LGBTQ+ people across the Eurasian region, as well as how international governments and organisations may respond to restrictions affecting groups that support LGBTQ+ communities and people living with or affected by HIV.
