They shared a simple kiss. Now they're facing trial and the threat of prison. Turkey cracks down on LGBT+ people
Until recently, it was a common expression of affection on social networks. Today, it can cost up to three years in prison. A trial is underway in Turkey that lawyers and human rights organisations say goes beyond the individual case and goes to the very heart of whether LGBT+ people can exist publicly.
Kissing as a "crime"
Eleven young activists from the Young LGBTI+ organisation stood trial in Izmir. The charges are based on the fact that they shared photos of same-sex couples kissing on social media. According to Turkish authorities, the content violates the protection of the family and public morality - and is therefore "obscene".
It is this interpretation that may be key. For it is not just about individual posts, but about how the state defines the line between a normal expression of identity and a criminal offence. Activists face not only jail time but also restrictions on their civil rights.
A case that should send a signal
According to attorney Kerem Dikmen, who represents the defendants and is also one of them, this is not an isolated incident. "This is not about obscenity. Legitimate and legal activities are being criminalized. It is a form of dehumanization," he said.
The lawsuit comes at a time when the possible banning of the Young LGBTI+ organisation itself is also being addressed. This was ordered last December and is now being appealed. Together, the two cases paint a picture of systematic pressure - not only on individuals, but also on the structures that represent the queer community.
Homosexuality legal, reality more complex
Turkey is not one of the countries where homosexuality is illegal. In this respect, it differs from many other countries in the region. But formal legality in practice runs up against political rhetoric and social climate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has long used LGBT+ issues as part of his political communication. In the past, for example, he has linked the country's low birth rate to the existence of queer people. Critics say such statements contribute to making the LGBT+ community an easy target.
From Europe back
Yet at the turn of the millennium, Turkey was moving closer to Europe. Negotiations to join the European Union, launched in 1999, also brought pressure to respect human rights. But this process gradually stalled and virtually ended after 2016 - partly because of concerns about weakening democracy.
As relations with the EU have cooled, observers say attitudes towards minorities, including LGBT+ people, have also changed.
Legislative proposals that have raised concerns
Tensions around queer rights in Turkey were exacerbated by a bill last year that could criminalise expressions of identity "contrary to biological sex" or "general morality". According to Amnesty International, such legislation could penalise not only same-sex relationships but also the very way people present themselves or the care they seek.
Although the proposal was withdrawn in November, critics say the current court case shows that similar objectives can be pursued through existing laws.
Visibility as risk
The Young LGBTI+ case thus opens up a wider question - where does freedom of expression end and criminal responsibility begin? For the queer community in Turkey, the answer may be crucial.
"They are trying to send a message to the whole society through us," said Dikmen, adding that activists are not going to give up defending human rights despite the threats.
For in an environment where even a simple kiss can be branded obscene, visibility becomes not only an act of identity - but a risk.
