Turkish Court Keeps Five in Custody in Operation Targeting LGBT Groups

On October 13, 2026, a court ordered five people arrested in Kuşadası, in the western Turkish province of Aydın, to remain in custody under the “My Family Is Safe” operation (Ailem Güvende). ÜniKuir reported the decision. The new ruling concerns continued pretrial detention.

According to the outlet, six people, including LGBT activists, were detained in Kuşadası in September. After appearing before a court, five were remanded on allegations relating to “obscenity” and “prostitution”.

News agency DHA reported on September 14 that five had been remanded and one released after questioning by prosecutors. It relayed investigators’ suspicions of disseminating obscene material through social media, facilitating prostitution and possessing or purchasing drugs. These are prosecution allegations, not findings of guilt.

ÜniKuir’s October report does not provide detailed reasons for the decision, a new detention period or a date for the next review. It does not name the five individuals either. The outlet does not report a verdict.

Uránia previously reported the release of four people, including LGBT rights defenders, in Mersin on October 13. Both reports concern the same September operation, but different regional investigations.