On January 10, Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) delivered a controversial Friday sermon titled “To Protect the Human Nature is to Protect the Family,” targeting the LGBTI+ community with rhetoric describing “desexualization” as a threat to humanity. The move coincides with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” which included sharp criticism of LGBTI+ individuals.
Diyanet’s Sermon Sparks Controversy
The sermon, circulated to mosques nationwide for the weekly Friday prayers, did not explicitly name the LGBTI+ community but described alleged threats to traditional gender roles:
“Today, one of the greatest threats facing humanity is the attempt to erase the natural essence of men and women. One such effort, known as desexualization, seeks to distort the spiritual and physical characteristics of human beings, aiming to transform women into men and men into women.”
The message framed the issue as an assault on divine will, blaming the alleged “degendering” movement for promoting alcohol, drug use, and illegitimate relationships, which the sermon claimed exploit children and threaten future generations.
Population Policies Council Targets LGBTI+ Community
The newly established Population Policies Council, convening for the first time on January 9, echoed similar sentiments. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, addressing the council, labeled the LGBTI+ community as a “threat to the family” while discussing Turkey’s declining fertility rates.
Yılmaz’s speech raised concerns over perceived attacks on traditional family values, particularly through media and social channels:
“We must closely examine the increasing attacks on family values through global media and social media channels, as well as the systematic efforts aimed at genderlessness in societies.”
The council plans to implement an action plan and propose new legal regulations aimed at reinforcing family structures, including measures to discourage cesarean births and address declining fertility rates.
Focus on Education and Policy Reforms
Yılmaz emphasized education, culture, and communication as tools to safeguard what he called “our values” against global trends weakening traditional family structures.
“We are committed to addressing threats to the continuation of healthy generations, including the erosion of the family institution, declining fertility rates, and the genderlessness trend,” he stated.
Broader Implications
The intensified rhetoric from both the Diyanet and the government underscores a continued effort to marginalize the LGBTI+ community, framing them as central to broader societal and demographic challenges. Critics warn that such policies risk further stigmatizing an already vulnerable group while using them as scapegoats for complex social issues.
As Turkey enters its “Year of the Family,” the alignment of religious and political messaging signals an aggressive push to reinforce traditional values, raising questions about the impact on human rights and social cohesion in the country.