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For immediate releaseBrussels / Istanbul, 15 September 2026 — Repro Uncensored and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) condemn the sweeping attacks on LGBTQI+ communities in Türkiye and call for the immediate release of those detained, the dismissal of all discriminatory charges, and the restoration of blocked websites and social media accounts.Beginning on 12 September, Turkish authorities restricted access to the websites and social media accounts of numerous LGBTQI+ organizations, media platforms, student groups and human rights defenders. Coordinated police operations followed across multiple provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Aydın and Mersin.They reportedly targeted 162 people, nine associations and 13 businesses across 15 provinces. Dozens of people have been detained, offices and homes searched, and phones, computers and other digital equipment seized.Among those targeted was partner organization and IPPF Associate Member Association KAOS GL, whose offices were raided as part of the coordinated operations. KAOS GL had previously warned of escalating repression and censorship facing LGBTQI+ communities across Türkiye, including coercive investigations into its finances, despite regularly reporting its accounts to the relevant authorities and operating in accordance with national laws.The crackdown has also involved widespread digital censorship. Websites and social media accounts connected to LGBTQI+ organizations, activists and independent media have been blocked or made inaccessible. Repro Uncensored is investigating the scale and impact of these restrictions, including how they have disrupted access to health information, legal support and essential community services.This escalation follows the suppression of Pride events in June, when marches across Türkiye were banned or violently dispersed and at least 125 people were detained. During the same period, more than 120 LGBTQI+ and feminist social media accounts were suspended across major platforms. At the time, the organizations warned that digital censorship was reinforcing the repression of LGBTQI+ communities on the streets and accelerating the erosion of democratic space. The latest raids and detentions demonstrate how urgently those warnings should have been addressed.These events demonstrate how digital censorship and physical repression increasingly reinforce one another. Restricting organizations online while raiding their offices, detaining their members and seizing their equipment is a direct attack on civil society, freedom of expression and democracy.“Digital censorship is being used alongside raids and detentions to isolate LGBTQI+ communities, silence their voices and dismantle their ability to organize. This coordinated repression is a direct threat to democracy, freedom of expression and respect for fundamental human rights. LGBTQI+ visibility, solidarity and community care are not crimes. Türkiye must immediately release those detained, drop all discriminatory charges and restore access to the websites and social media accounts it has blocked.”- Martha Dimitratou, Founder & Executive Director, Repro Uncensored“The actions taken against LGBTQI+ activists by the Turkish government over the weekend are deplorable. People are being attacked and detained simply for being who they are and for standing up for their rights. At IPPF, we fully recognise the tactic of using the language of ‘protecting children and family’ to supposedly justify attacks on LGBTQI+ people and their rights. We reject it. ”- Micah Grzywnowicz, European Network Regional Director at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)As an EU candidate country, Türkiye is required to uphold the Copenhagen criteria, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities. The coordinated targeting of LGBTQI+ organizations, activists and community spaces stands in direct contradiction to these fundamental requirements.Repro Uncensored and IPPF call on Turkish authorities to immediately release those detained for lawful organizing, drop all discriminatory charges, end the intimidation of LGBTQI+ civil society, restore blocked digital platforms and return seized equipment.“This repression will not silence us. We will continue to organise, defend our rights, and stand together against any attempts to criminalise the existence of, or activism by, the LGBTIQA+ community. We call on the international community, human rights organisations, and all those committed to equality and freedom, to stand in solidarity with us and support our struggle. As we always say at UniKuir, “Through resistance and solidarity.” - UniKuir NGOThey also urge the European Union, European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States, and the Council of Europe to address these violations clearly in its relations with Türkiye and make respect for fundamental rights central to any future progress in the accession process.For more information or to speak to one of our spokespeople, contact:Martha DimitratouFounder & Executive Director, Repro Uncensoredmartha@reprouncensored.orgNerida WilliamsInternational Planned Parenthood Federationnewilliams@ippf.orgAbout Repro UncensoredRepro Uncensored is the leading global nonprofit documenting digital censorship, reinstating accounts and protecting freedom of expression. It has documented thousands of censorship cases across more than 50 countries and reinstated dozens of accounts with millions in reach.Through research, legal action, policy reform and direct support, Repro Uncensored works to hold technology companies accountable and protect access to information.About the International Planned Parenthood FederationThe International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global healthcare provider and advocacy organization working in over 140 countries to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. It delivers essential services and advocates for access to accurate information, equality and bodily autonomy worldwide. 

Brussels / Istanbul, 13 July 2026 - Amid an escalating crackdown on LGBTQI+ communities in Türkiye, Repro Uncensored, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), ÜniKuir Association and Kaos GL are raising alarm over the suspension of more than 120 LGBTQI+ and feminist social media accounts across major social media platforms beginning on 19 June 2026, according to documentation compiled by Turkish civil society organizations. Homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, but the annual Pride march has been almost systematically banned and suppressed since 2015. This year's suspensions coincided with the violent suppression of Pride Month events by Turkish authorities, widespread police violence, arbitrary detentions, and broader restrictions on freedom of expression, severely limiting organizations' ability to share urgent safety information, document human rights violations, and support their communities.As authorities intensified restrictions on public assembly, Pride Month events across Türkiye were systematically targeted. Pride marches in Kuşadası, Ankara, İstanbul Trans Pride, İzmir, and İstanbul were banned or violently dispersed. At least 125 people were detained, while journalists, activists, and community organizers reported increased police surveillance, arbitrary arrests, and broader restrictions on civic space. During the same period, the widespread suspension of LGBTQI+ and feminist social media accounts significantly undermined civil society organizations' ability to communicate with affected communities, provide legal information, document abuses, and coordinate emergency responses at a moment of acute need.The suspensions in Türkiye form part of a broader global pattern of platform censorship affecting organizations working on sexual and reproductive health and rights, LGBTQI+ rights, gender equality, public health, and democratic participation. Repro Uncensored has documented more than 500 incidents of account suspensions, content removals, shadow banning, and other forms of platform enforcement in 2026 alone.Just days before these events, Repro Uncensored convened a press conference at the European Parliament with MEP Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA) and affected organizations to warn of the growing censorship of lawful public interest content across major social media platforms. The suspensions in Türkiye further demonstrate that these are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern with serious implications for freedom of expression, democratic participation, and human rights.The events in Türkiye also follow recent waves of platform enforcement affecting abortion rights organizations in Poland, queer organizations in the Netherlands and Germany, feminist creators across Europe, and civil society organizations documenting human rights violations in multiple regions. Taken together, these incidents raise growing concerns about the role of major technology platforms in restricting access to lawful information during moments of political crisis and civic mobilization."The events in Türkiye demonstrate how digital censorship and offline repression increasingly reinforce one another. Silencing civil society online while communities face repression on the streets accelerates the erosion of democratic space. With more than 500 cases documented this year, these are not isolated incidents—they reflect a broader pattern of opaque platform governance with profound implications for freedom of expression, democratic participation, and human rights."  — Martha Dimitratou, Founder & Executive Director, Repro Uncensored"Algorithms are never neutral. When LGBTQI+ and feminist organisations are silenced during Pride Month, the impact extends far beyond social media - it essentially denies people access to vital health information, solidarity and support. Technology companies cannot claim to champion inclusion while allowing their platforms to erase the very communities they say they stand with." — Micah Grzywnowicz, European Network Regional Director, IPPF"This year, Pride events across Türkiye were met with bans, police violence, and arbitrary detentions, while the social media accounts used to organize, document violations, and support communities were suspended or restricted. For LGBTI+ students and young people, these platforms are essential for information, safety, and solidarity. Silencing them during Pride further isolates communities already facing repression." — İzot Ergün, ÜniKuir Association"The suspension of social media accounts should be understood as a violation of civil society organizations' rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. However, the more critical issue is that these actions also prevent rights holders from accessing essential services, constituting discrimination and violating the principle of non-discrimination. LGBTQI+ people seeking counselling and support, including services related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), are being denied access to these vital resources. This amounts to a direct obstruction of the right to health." — Umut Güner, General Coordinator, KAOS GLRepro Uncensored, IPPF, ÜniKuir Association, and KAOS GL call on Meta and X to urgently investigate the suspensions, provide meaningful transparency regarding enforcement decisions, restore accounts that were removed in error, and ensure accessible and effective mechanisms for appeal and redress. The organizations also urge policymakers and regulators to examine the broader human rights implications of opaque platform governance, particularly when moderation actions coincide with moments of political unrest, protests, and restrictions on civic space.The ability of civil society organizations to communicate online has become indispensable to democratic participation, freedom of expression, public health, and access to human rights information. Ensuring that lawful organizations can continue reaching their communities without arbitrary interruption is fundamental to protecting civic space in the digital age.For more information or to speak to one of our spokespeople, contact:Martha DimitratouFounder & Executive Director, Repro Uncensoredmartha@reprouncensored.orgNerida WilliamsInternational Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)newilliams@ippf.orgİzot ErgünÜniKuir Association from Turkeyizot@unikuir.orgUmut GünerGeneral Coordinator, KAOS GL from Turkeyumut@kaosgl.orgAbout Repro UncensoredRepro Uncensored is a global nonprofit documenting digital suppression and supporting organizations affected by discriminatory moderation systems. Through multilingual incident tracking, its global censorship map, research, and cultural advocacy, Repro Uncensored works with sexual and reproductive health organizations, queer collectives, and cultural communities to ensure their content remains accessible. The organization also supports account reinstatements and leads work on emerging forms of technology-enabled harm, including AI-driven abuse.About The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global healthcare provider and advocacy organization working in over 140 countries to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. It delivers essential services, including contraception and safe abortion care, and advocates for access to accurate information and bodily autonomy worldwide.About ÜniKuir AssociationÜniKuir Association is a legally registered non-governmental organization based in Türkiye. It works to support LGBTI+ youth and university students through human rights advocacy, access to accurate information, solidarity, awareness-raising, and the promotion of safer, more equal, and inclusive university environments. Through educational initiatives, rights monitoring, support for student communities, and advocacy for youth participation in social and decision-making processes, ÜniKuir works to advance equality, strengthen civic participation, and protect the rights of LGBTI+ people across Türkiye. About KAOS GLKAOS GL is a rights-based non-governmental organization in Türkiye committed to fostering an equal and inclusive society through scientific, cultural, social, artistic, and educational programs that combat all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and individual sexual characteristics. Founded in 1994, KAOS GL emerged with a simple yet powerful mission: to protect the lives of the LGBTQI community and loudly say, "We exist. We live in a society that is not only sexist but also heterosexist." The organization’s work is structured around four core strategic programs: Academic and Cultural Studies, Human Rights, Media and Communication, and Refugee Rights.  

16th April 2026 - A new project titled Strengthening Life-saving Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has been launched in Sudan. Funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the IPPF Member Association Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA), the project will support women and girls in crisis in the Red Sea and Khartoum States.  Fifteen million people in Sudan have been displaced by the civil war, and conflicts in neighbouring countries have triggered an influx of returnees and displaced people into Sudan. As a result, the country now hosts 15% of the world’s IDPs. But widespread destruction of infrastructure and deadly disease outbreaks have left the healthcare system unable to cope.An estimated 1.75 million women and girls require urgent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including 270,000 internally displaced pregnant women. With rape increasingly used as a weapon of war, many require urgent medical and psychosocial support. However, essential SRH commodities, including contraceptives, emergency obstetric kits, and menstrual hygiene products, are in critically low supply.  SFPA provides essential sexual and reproductive health services to women and girls, including internally displaced persons, through 26 static clinics and 11 mobile clinics across the country. This new funding will enable them to procure, transport and distribute essential supplies to two of the organisation’s static clinics in the Red Sea State and Khartoum State. This vital equipment, including microscopes, blood-testing devices, thermometers, and examination lamps, will enable these clinics to continue providing SRH services, expanding their reach to an additional 2,400 internally displaced people and individuals in host communities. Mr. Nakahara Takanobu, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan to Sudan, stated that, “The provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare for women and girls is a critical step in supporting this vulnerable category in Sudan. This is more so when they are IDPs. Thus, we are happy to be able to support IPPF’s Member Association in Sudan - the Sudan Family Planning Association - in this domain, so that we can contribute to improving the safety and well-being of these women and girls, and reassure them that we acknowledge the challenges they face and endure.” Dr Hiba Ahmed Khalil, Emergency and Humanitarian Interventions Manager at SFPA added, “SFPA is honoured to join the Japan Supplementary Budget 2025 project, advancing inclusive health and humanitarian responses that strengthen access to essential services and uphold the rights of communities most at risk. Together, we are building pathways for resilience and equity.”  Dr. Fadoua Bakhadda, Regional Director of the IPPF Arab World Regional Office, added, “Every woman and girl deserves access to safe, reliable healthcare, no matter the circumstances. Thanks to the people of Japan, we can equip clinics with the essential tools and supplies needed to continue providing critical sexual and reproductive healthcare. This investment will directly improve the safety, health, and resilience of thousands of internally displaced women and girls.” ---About the Sudan Family Planning Association  The Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) was established in 1965 by pioneers in obstetrics and gynaecology in response to increases in maternal, neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity. As the statistics show, Sudan is a country in great need of frontline sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Advocacy, and undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) programs are critical.About International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Arab World Office  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952. Today, we are a movement of over 120 autonomous member associations and 23 collaborative partners with a presence in 146 countries. Established in 1971, the IPPF Arab World Region (IPPF AWR) is one of IPPF’s six regional offices. Based in Tunis, it is the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) service delivery organization in North Africa and the Middle East, and the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region.