Turkey's government tightening punishment for LGBT propaganda

The General Assembly of the Turkish Parliament on October 19, 2024. Photo: AA

On October 15, 2025, the government of Turkey presented the draft of the 11th judicial reform package, which includes stricter penalties for publicly expressing LGBT identity and conducting same-sex ceremonies, reports Türkiye Today.

According to the proposed amendment, “Any person who engages in, publicly encourages, praises, or promotes attitudes or behaviors contrary to their biological sex at birth and public morality shall be punished with imprisonment of one to three years.” 

Furthermore, same-sex couples holding engagement or wedding ceremonies could face prison sentences ranging from one and a half to four years. The penalty for “public sexual acts or exhibitionism,” currently set between six months and one year, would also be increased to between one and three years.

In addition, the legal age for gender reassignment surgery would rise from 18 to 25, while the requirements to undergo such procedures would become more stringent.

As the authorities state, the goal of the reforms is the "protection of family and public order". Human rights activists consider the bill another step towards restricting LGBT rights in Turkey.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the authorities of Turkey consider Christians a threat to national security, according to human rights defenders.

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