Erdogan in victory speech rant against 'LGBT+ forces'

Turkish president secures another five years after run-off

- SRAVASTI DASGUPTA

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday celebrated his presidential run-off victory after an election that stretched his rule into a third decade, lashing out at “LGBT+ forces” in the country. In his victory speech in the Istanbul district of Uskudar three hours after the polls had closed, Mr Erdogan claimed to have achieved “a victory where nobody is left behind”.

However, he went on to hit out at LGBT+ people and said the opposition was promoting gay rights, an appeal to his ultraconservative religious base. “In our culture, family is sacred. No one can interfere. We will strangle anyone who dares to touch it,” he told supporters, according to a report by The Times.