Ottawa is not joining a European call to condemn Turkey’s recent raids on LGBTQ+ organizations, despite ongoing negotiations for a free-trade deal.
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The Carney government has chosen not to add its voice to a group of European countries condemning Turkey’s recent crackdown on LGBTQ+ organizations and advocates as Ankara discusses a possible trade deal with Canada.
According to the report, Turkish authorities targeted multiple LGBTQ+ groups and individuals during the past week, including detaining dozens of activists, breaking into association offices, and raiding popular LGBTQ+ hangouts.
The actions were accompanied by restrictions on public dissent and online activity. The report says Turkish authorities stopped protests against the raids and banned access to numerous social media accounts.
While the Turkish Justice Minister, Akin Gurlek, described the effort as an investigation involving 162 suspects, nine associations, and 13 businesses, the reported rationale was framed as protecting children, the family institution, and public order. The report also notes that same-sex activity is not illegal in Turkey.
Rights groups say the crackdown marks escalation. ILGA-Europe is asking countries to speak out, warning that roughly 300 people had been arrested as of Thursday and describing the raids as part of a concerted attack on LGBTI activism and community support.
In a statement cited in the report, ILGA-Europe linked Turkey’s broader approach under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to restrictions and detentions around Pride events, censorship of LGBTI content, pressure on organizations, and political narratives portraying LGBTQ+ people as threats to children, families, and public morality.
At the European level, the report says the European Union expressed concern and that a joint statement issued Thursday by France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Iceland called the crackdown “deeply troubling,” citing rights to expression, assembly and association under the European Convention on Human Rights, which Turkey has signed.
The question of why Ottawa did not participate came up when Global Affairs Canada was asked directly. The department did not answer directly, and instead issued a general statement reaffirming support for LGBTQ+ rights that did not mention Turkey by name.
In that statement, Global Affairs said Canada believes people should live freely, safely and with dignity, and that it remains concerned by developments in countries where the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ persons are being restricted. The report says the department also noted it is in close contact with LGBTQ+ organizations and advocates in countries where Canada serves, describing them as providing insight into conditions on the ground.
The broader context for Ottawa’s approach includes the Carney government’s position on rights-related criticism. The report says Prime Minister Mark Carney has argued that closed-door conversations are more productive than “lecturing countries from afar,” including in relation to countries where his government is limiting public criticism. It also notes that Turkey and Canada launched free-trade negotiations in July, while the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has accused the government of applying a “double standard” in criticism involving Israel and Turkey.
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