🇹🇷Week of September 7

Turkish police carried out a nationwide operation called 'Ailem Güvende' (My Family is Safe) across 15 provinces, raiding LGBT associations and entertainment venues. The operation resulted in 163 people being named as suspects, according to Cumhuriyet. In Istanbul, the raids targeted well-known venues in a night of successive operations, as reported by Sözcü.123

As part of the operation, access was blocked to 73 websites and social media accounts belonging to LGBT associations. Sabah published a list of the blocked sites and accounts. The blocking order followed the raids, according to Sabah.4

Detention orders were issued for Arif Saçlı, and an access ban was imposed on Mika Can Raun, according to Onedio. The report also mentioned that the operation targeted LGBT associations and entertainment venues. Onedio did not specify the charges against Saçlı or Raun.5

Turkish police detained 43 people, including municipal staff and contractors, in a bribery operation targeting Seferihisar Municipality in İzmir. The operation is part of an ongoing corruption investigation into the municipality, which has seen previous waves of detentions. Among those previously detained were the head of the Purchasing Department and the official responsible for Kent Lokantaları (City Restaurants).123

WhatsApp messages between jailed Seferihisar Mayor İsmail Yetişkin and Sultan Acar have been entered into the investigation file, revealing a money trail involving hundreds of thousands of liras. The messages include exchanges with the term 'aşkım' (my love) and references to gambling. The correspondence was reported by multiple outlets, with pro-government Haber 7 highlighting a message asking 'Aşkım, did you fall into gambling again?'4567

Attributed claim: The mayor is a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the case is part of a broader pattern of corruption investigations targeting CHP-run municipalities. Pro-government outlets Milliyet and Haber 7 framed the messages as 'scandalous confessions' and focused on the gambling reference, while oppositional Sözcü and T24 reported the money trail without the gambling angle. The detention figure of 43 was consistent across state, pro-government, and oppositional outlets.8741

The investigation file includes the WhatsApp correspondence as evidence, and the operation is described as a new wave targeting Seferihisar Municipality. The detained individuals include municipal personnel and contractors, according to the reports. The mayor, İsmail Yetişkin, is already jailed as part of the case.195

Turkish authorities arrested three suspects in the investigation into the death of Kaşif Kozinoğlu, according to state and pro-government outlets. The three are journalist Günday and two emergency medical technicians, as reported by oppositional outlet Bianet. The arrests follow the completion of a feth-i kabir, or exhumation, procedure.123456789

Kozinoğlu's grave was opened 15 years after his death so that forensic medicine could determine the cause, according to Hürriyet. Pro-government Sabah described the death as a step-by-step planned assassination rather than negligence, and said forensic medicine would solve the mystery. Oppositional Odatv focused on the investigation's key address, Vatan Emniyet C Blok 8. Kat.3410

The exhumation procedure was completed and three suspects were arrested, Hürriyet reported. Sabah, DHA, TV5 Haber, and Son Dakika also reported the arrests of three suspects in the Kozinoğlu investigation.56789

The United States announced a new sanctions package targeting Iran's global shadow financing network, with the aviation sector as a focus. The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 36 companies, including three Turkey-based firms accused of supporting Mahan Air. The Treasury also sanctioned nine Iraqi businessmen as part of the same action.12345

The sanctions package targets companies operating in Turkey, according to Turkish media reports. The three Turkey-based companies were designated for providing support to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline. The broader action includes measures against Iran's global shadow financing network.421

The US Treasury Department's sanctions list includes 36 companies in total, with the aviation sector specifically targeted. Nine Iraqi businessmen were also sanctioned. The measures are part of Washington's effort to disrupt Iran's global shadow financing network.351

Yemen's government forces struck Houthi targets and downed five drones, according to the state news agency Anadolu Ajansı. The reported operation comes as Turkish outlets warn of a renewed war in Yemen and rising regional conflict risk.12

Turkish media reported that tensions are escalating from the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb, with Houthi advances changing the balance of power in the Red Sea. Hürriyet described a regional conflict risk, while Cumhuriyet focused on the Bab el-Mandeb alarm following Houthi progress.34

Attributed claim: Opposition outlet soL Haber claimed that the United States is pressing and Pakistan is willing, and that the AKP government is dragging Turkey into the war in Yemen. This claim was not echoed by the pro-government or wire outlets in the cluster.5

Independent Türkçe asked whether the Houthis are playing their last card and whether a decisive battle is approaching in Yemen, while Daily Ummah warned of a dangerous escalation and a possible new war. fokusplus.com identified Bab el-Mandeb as the new address of the war.678