Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
7 February 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(O2/046) Journalist Subjected to Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Mardin…
On February 7, 2025, journalist Öznur Değer was detained in a house raid in Kızıltepe district of Mardin and was subjected to physical violence and handcuffing behind her back.
(02/047) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
On February 4, 2024 it is learned from the news coverage of February 4, 2024 that communication, social and cultural rights of prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison are restricted. It is learned that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Aydın Değirmenci, a prisoner in the same prison, on the grounds of making propaganda for an illegal organisation in a letter he wrote; and against Mehmet Şirin Kaya, on the grounds of rejecting to be searched inside his mouth; and that Hamit Acu is kept in solitary confinement.
On February 6, 2025 it is learned from the news coverage of February 6, 2025 that, lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz, who was kept in Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) L Type Prison No 5, was transferred to Tekirdağ High Security Prison No 2 against his will and was subjected to strip search at the entrance of the prison.
On February 7, 2025, it is learned from news coverage of February 7, 2025 that Çetin Tutkun, a prisoner in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2 was subjected to physical violence of the wardens for rejecting strip search.
(02/048) Prisoners Prevented from Right to Health in Prison…
On February 4, 2024, it is learned from the news coverage of February 4, 2024 that, Mehmet Şirin Kaya and İlhan Talay, prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison were not referred to hospital for rejecting to be subjected to mouth search.
On February 7, 2025 it is learned from the news coverage of February 7, 2025 that Çetin Tutkun, a prisoner in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2 was not given the diet food he was supposed to receive and was not referred to hospital.
(02/049) Requests for Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on January 31, 2025 to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family and guardian by Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş’s families and guardians in İmralı Prison was not responded by Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(02/050) Police Intervention Against Commemoration in Hatay…
The police intervened the people who wanted to gather in Hatay on February 6, 2025 to commemorate the second anniversary of the earthquake through a Maraş based investigation and detained 3 people by using physical violence.
(02/051) Detained Party Executive and Other People in Mardin…
On February 7, 2025, Ziynet Algan, former Nusaybin district co-chair of Democratic Regions Party, Mithat Yıldız and Lokman Aslan are detained in house raids in Mardin.
(02/052) Journalist Arrested in Mardin for Social Media Posts…
On February 7, 2025, journalist Öznur Değer, who was detained after her house was raided in Kızıltepe, Mardin, was arrested by the criminal court of peace on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ in her social media posts about journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan who died in northern Syria.
(02/053) Person Arrested in Izmir for Social Media Posts…
1 person named Z.M. who was detained in Izmir on the grounds of insulting the President and public officials in social media posts, is arrested by the criminal court of peace on February 7, 2025.
(02/054) Detained People in Istanbul…
On February 6, 2025, I.S.G., brother of manager Ayşe Barım, who was arrested on January 27, 2025 for participating in Gezi Protests in 2013 with the artists of her agency, and 1 unidentified person are detained on the grounds of tampering with evidence.
It is also learned from the news coverage of February 6, 2025 that screenwriter Mehmet Bozdağ gave his official statement to the prosecutor’s office through the investigation against Ayşe Barım.
(02/055) Co-Mayor on Trial in Tunceli…
The final hearing of the case against Birsen Orhan, elected co-mayor of Tunceli Municipality from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior and replaced by a trustee, was held at Tunceli Criminal Court of First Instance on February 7, 2025. The court sentenced Birsen Orhan to 5 months on the charge of ‘public incitement to commit a crime’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
Birsen Orhan was detained on November 24, 2024 and was released with a travel ban and house arrest measures. On November 30, 2024, he was detained and arrested again and was released on December 3, 2024 upon the acceptance of the appeal against this decision.
(02/056) Co-Mayor on Trial in Kars
The trial of the case against Mehmet Alkan, co-mayor of Kağızman district of Kars, continued on February 6, 2025 at Kars Heavy Penal Court No 2. The indictment demands sentence for Mehmet Alkan on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to February 20, 2025.
(02/057) Former Mayor on Trial…
On February 6, 2025, it is learned from news coverage of February 6, 2025 that Istanbul Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against 8 people including Battal İlgezdi, former elected mayor of Ataşehir district of Istanbul from Republican People’s Party (CHP). The indictment demands 9 people to be sentenced on the charge of ‘abuse of office in a chain’.
(02/058) Human Rights Defender on Trial in Ankara…
According to the news coverage of September 26, 2024, the final trial of the case against Adnan Vural, former central executive board member of Human Rights Association (IHD), on the grounds of a press declaration he attended in 2016 and his social media posts, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 6, 2025. The indictment demands sentence for Adnan Vural on the charges of ‘being an illegal organization member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The court sentenced Adnan Vural to 1 year 6 months and 22 days for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and acquitted him on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’.
(02/059) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against BirGün reporter İsmail Arı, upon the complaint of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Mersin MP Levent Uysal, continued on February 6, 2025 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 5. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charges of ‘insult’ and ‘slander’. The court adjourned the trial to July 10, 2025.
(02/060) Investigation Against Journalist…
It is learned that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against BirGün reporter Sarya Toprak for her news report titled “‘Investigation Against Women Not Perpetrators’” and that Sarya Toprak gave her statement through the investigation.
(02/061) Former Party Chairman on Trial…
The trial of the case against former CHP chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu continued on February 7, 2025 at Mersin Penal Court of First Instance No 3. The indictment demands sentence for Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on the charge of ‘insulting the President’. The court adjourned the trial to June 19, 2025.
(02/062) Party Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Rojda Yılmaz and Abdullah Arınan, former Esenyurt district co-chairs of DEM Party, started on February 6, 2025 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22. The indictment demands sentence for both defendants on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court released 2 people and adjourned the trial to May 6, 2025.
(02/063) Person on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against Halise Aksoy is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on February 7, 2025. The court sentenced Halise Aksoy to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’.
Halise Aksoy was arrested on April 25, 2023 and was released on April 19, 2024.
(02/064) Sinan Ateş Case…
On February 6, 2022, Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 32 continued to hear the case against 2 people (Mustafa Ensar Aykal and Serdar Öktem, then Homicide Bureau Chief Mustafa Ensar Aykal and Serdar Öktem), whose files were separated in the case on the killing of Sinan Ateş, former chair of the Grey Wolves’ Hearths in Ankara on December 30, 2022. The court released Mustafa Ensar Aykal on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to June 26, 2025.
(02/065) Access Restricted Internet Content…
On February 6, 2025, it is learned from news coverage of February 6, 2025 that the social media account of Artı Gerçek news website is banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.