Libyan teen detained in Istanbul, his family says embassy has yet to contact him
In a widely shared social media post, the family said that Othman was detained following a complaint filed by a Turkish woman who accused him of photographing her son without permission at a shopping mall in Istanbul, despite the absence of any evidence supporting the allegation.
The family added that Othman had traveled to Turkey for a short vacation after completing his exams and was taking souvenir photos at the 'Vadistanbul' shopping mall when a woman confronted him and claimed he had taken pictures of her son—an accusation he immediately denied.
He handed over his phone to the woman, which was found to contain no photos or videos of her son. However, upon learning he was not a Turkish citizen, the woman insisted on calling mall security.
Othman was taken to a police station, where Turkish authorities conducted an official search of his phone and found no incriminating material. Nevertheless, he remains in custody without any formal charges, raising concerns about legal procedures—especially given that he is considered a minor under both Libyan and international law.
The family has called on Libyan authorities to urgently intervene and provide legal assistance to their son, stressing that the incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen legal protection for Libyan citizens abroad.
As of now, the Libyan Embassy in Turkey has not issued an official statement, and there is no available information from Turkish authorities on whether formal charges will be filed or if the youth will be released.
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