A Turkish court has jailed eight members of LGBTQ+ rights organisation Kaos GL pending trial as part of a wider government investigation targeting LGBTQ+ groups and activities across the country.

The eight activists were jailed on Tuesday after prosecutors accused them of disseminating obscene content, citing their roles in the organisation and their social media activities, Reuters reported.

Seven other Kaos GL members, including a journalist, were released under judicial supervision.

The arrests are part of a nationwide operation dubbed “My Family Is Safe”, which the Turkish government says is aimed at protecting children and family values.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the wider investigation involves 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across the country.

Authorities have also blocked access to websites and social media accounts linked to some LGBTQ+ organisations.

The operation has resulted in dozens of people being detained or jailed in different parts of Turkey.

Reuters reported that at least 31 people had been placed in pre-trial detention by Tuesday, including five transgender women in Ankara and 26 people in Mersin. Eighteen people were also jailed in Izmir following earlier raids.

The raids have targeted LGBTQ+ association offices, activists’ homes and venues in several provinces.

Turkish authorities have cited allegations including obscenity and other criminal activity in the investigations, while LGBTQ+ organisations and rights groups have rejected the accusations and criticised the operation as an attack on fundamental rights.

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expressed concern over the arrests and called for people detained for exercising their rights and defending human rights to be released.

Kaos GL has condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of its members.

The latest arrests come amid increased restrictions on LGBTQ+ organisations and events in Turkey, where authorities have increasingly promoted policies centred on what they describe as protecting traditional family values.

A Turkish court has jailed eight members of LGBTQ+ rights organisation Kaos GL pending trial as part of a wider government investigation targeting LGBTQ+ groups and activities across the country.

The eight activists were jailed on Tuesday after prosecutors accused them of disseminating obscene content, citing their roles in the organisation and their social media activities, Reuters reported.

Seven other Kaos GL members, including a journalist, were released under judicial supervision.

The arrests are part of a nationwide operation dubbed “My Family Is Safe”, which the Turkish government says is aimed at protecting children and family values.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the wider investigation involves 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses across the country.

Authorities have also blocked access to websites and social media accounts linked to some LGBTQ+ organisations.

The operation has resulted in dozens of people being detained or jailed in different parts of Turkey.

Reuters reported that at least 31 people had been placed in pre-trial detention by Tuesday, including five transgender women in Ankara and 26 people in Mersin. Eighteen people were also jailed in Izmir following earlier raids.

The raids have targeted LGBTQ+ association offices, activists’ homes and venues in several provinces.

Turkish authorities have cited allegations including obscenity and other criminal activity in the investigations, while LGBTQ+ organisations and rights groups have rejected the accusations and criticised the operation as an attack on fundamental rights.

The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, expressed concern over the arrests and called for people detained for exercising their rights and defending human rights to be released.

Kaos GL has condemned the arrests and called for the immediate release of its members.

The latest arrests come amid increased restrictions on LGBTQ+ organisations and events in Turkey, where authorities have increasingly promoted policies centred on what they describe as protecting traditional family values.