New Judicial Reform Package Sparks Global Outcry Over Harsh Anti-LGBTQ+ Provisions

Summary:

The Turkish government’s newly proposed 11th Judicial Reform Package has triggered widespread condemnation both at home and abroad for what critics call an unprecedented assault on LGBTQ+ rights. The reforms would criminalize same-sex ceremonies, restrict gender-affirming healthcare, and impose sweeping censorship across media and digital platforms — a move observers liken to the policies of Russia and Hungary.

A Legal Offensive Against LGBTQ+ Expression

The proposed legislation — part of Ankara’s 11th Judicial Reform Package — introduces multiple clauses directly targeting sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.

The most controversial amendment would alter the Turkish Penal Code to criminalize any public “promotion or encouragement of behavior contrary to biological sex at birth and public morality.”
Those convicted could face one to three years in prison, while same-sex couples holding engagement or wedding ceremonies could receive up to four years in prison.

Although homosexuality itself is not illegal in Turkey, same-sex unions are not legally recognized. Human rights groups warn that the new proposals effectively criminalize visibility and advocacy, marking a “de facto ban” on LGBTQ+ life in public space.

Gender-Affirming Healthcare Severely Restricted

The draft package would also impose new barriers to gender reassignment surgery and medical transition.
Under the proposed rules:

• The minimum legal age for surgery would increase from 18 to 25,

• Applicants must be unmarried,

• Must complete four separate psychological evaluations over a nine-month period,

• And obtain a court order before proceeding.

Healthcare professionals who fail to comply with these restrictions could face up to seven years in prison, a provision critics say will deter doctors from providing essential care.

“These laws amount to medical persecution,” said one Istanbul-based rights lawyer. “They will drive trans people further into danger and illegalize basic healthcare.”

Expanding Censorship Across Media

The reforms further propose new penalties for broadcast, film, and online platforms that depict LGBTQ+ characters or storylines.
This follows a pattern of tightening control over cultural expression — including the banning of Pride marches, LGBTQ+ films, and social media campaigns in recent years.

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) would gain extended powers to suspend or fine any production “contrary to national and moral values.”

Human rights organizations have described these measures as part of a broader attempt to erase LGBTQ+ identities from public life, warning that such censorship will “foster fear and hate, not morality.”

Government Justification: “Protecting Family and Morality”

Officials defend the legislation as necessary to “preserve the family institution” and “protect public morality.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) have increasingly embraced conservative and nationalist rhetoric, often invoking “traditional family values” to consolidate political support.

The government’s language echoes similar policies in Russia and Hungary, where anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been used to restrict civil liberties and silence dissent.

“This package is not about morality,” said a spokesperson for ILGA-Europe, “it’s about authoritarian control.”

International Backlash and Human Rights Concerns

The proposals have been condemned by ILGA-Europe, Amnesty International, and local Turkish advocacy organizations such as KAOS GL and SPoD (Social Policies, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation Studies Association).

In a joint statement, several rights groups called the reforms “a manifesto of hate” and urged the Turkish Parliament to reject the bill.

“If enacted, these laws would put Turkey in direct violation of international treaties it has signed, including the European Convention on Human Rights,” the statement read.

Diplomatic sources in Brussels and Washington have also expressed concern, warning that such laws could strain Turkey’s relations with Western allies and undermine its standing in the Council of Europe.

Parliament Set for Contentious Debate

The Grand National Assembly is expected to begin debating the Judicial Reform Package in the coming weeks.
Observers expect heated arguments not only over the anti-LGBTQ+ provisions but also over broader judicial independence concerns — with opposition parties warning that the reforms could further politicize the courts.

For many activists, the stakes could not be higher. “This is not just about LGBTQ+ rights,” said a representative of KAOS GL. “It’s about whether Turkey continues down the road of democracy — or turns its back on it completely.”