Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
25 April 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/171) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of April 23, 2025 that a letter written by journalist Öznur Değer, who is being held in Erzincan Women’s Prison, to the Turkish Journalists’ Union was confiscated by the prison administration and not delivered.
It is learned from news coverage of April 24, 2025 that some books sent to prisoners held at Erzurum Dumlu No. 2 High Security Prison were not delivered to the prisoners despite the fact that there was no decision to confiscate or seize them.
(04/172) Prisoners Denied the Right to Health Care in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of April 24, 2025 that Emre Can Demir, an inmate held at Samsun Kavak Type S Prison, was not transferred to the hospital.
(04/173) No Response to Request for Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan…
It has been learned that the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to the applications made by lawyers on April 22 and 24, 2025, to meet with their clients, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş, who are being held in Imralı Prison.
It has been learned that the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has not responded to the requests for a meeting submitted on April 25, 2025, by the family and legal guardian of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the families and legal guardians of Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş, who are being held at Imrali Prison.
(04/174) Individuals detained in Istanbul for chanting slogans…
On April 24, 2024, four individuals were detained in Istanbul for allegedly chanting “Diplomacy-less Erdoğan” while walking on the street, and one individual was detained for sharing this on social media. The five individuals, whose names were not disclosed, were released on April 25, 2025, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, subject to the conditions of “house arrest” and “ban on leaving the country.”
(04/175) Party Leader Detained in Urfa…
Muhsin Aydoğdu, a member of the Party Council of the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (Dem Party), was detained in Urfa on April 24, 2025, on allegations of making organization propaganda.
(04/176) Individuals Detained in İzmir Based on Social Media Posts…
On April 25, 2025, four people were detained in house raids in Izmir on allegations of spreading propaganda for an organization on social media. The names of those detained have not been disclosed.
(04/177) Trial of Former Party Leader and Former Member of Parliament…
The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), based on seven separate speeches he made in 2016, was accepted by the Diyarbakır Criminal Court of First Instance No 18 on April 24, 2025. The first hearing of the trial will take place on September 24, 2025.
(04/178) Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the trial against journalist Özlem Gürses, who was charged for statements she made on her YouTube channel about the political developments and ongoing conflicts in Syria, was held on April 24, 2025, at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 30. The court sentenced Özlem Gürses to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “insulting state institutions and organs” and postponed the announcement of the verdict.
(04/179) Trial of a Municipal Official in Mersin…
The trial of Bedrettin Gündeş, Head of the Press, Publications, and Public Relations Department of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, which was initiated at the Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 2, continued on April 25, 2025. The indictment seeks the punishment of Bedrettin Gündeş for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” Following the defense arguments, the court adjourned the hearing until July 18, 2025.
Bedrettin Gündeş was taken into custody on September 28, 2022, and was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on September 29, 2022. He was released at the hearing of the case filed against him on June 9, 2023.
(04/180) Mısır Çarşısı Case…
In the case related to the explosion that occurred on July 9, 1998, in the Mısır Çarşısı district of Istanbul, resulting in the deaths of seven people and injuries to 127 others, the retrial of sociologist Pınar Selek, whose acquittal was overturned, resumed on April 24, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 15. The court postponed the hearing to October 21, 2025.
The case against Pınar Selek, who was accused of “being a member of an organization,” was initially dismissed on June 8, 2006, but the decision was overturned by the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation No 9. The case was then reheard at the Istanbul 12th Heavy Penal Court. On May 23, 2008, Pınar Selek was acquitted again, but the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation No. 9 overturned this decision as well. As a result, the case was reheard at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 12, and on February 9, 2011, Selek was acquitted once more. Following the overturning of this decision, Pınar Selek was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment on January 24, 2013. After the 9th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned the aggravated life imprisonment sentence, the case was reheard at the Istanbul 15th Heavy Penal Court, where Pınar Selek was acquitted for the fourth time. However, this acquittal was also overturned on June 21, 2022.
(04/181) Trial of a Lawyer in Istanbul…
The trial of lawyer Seda Şaraldı, a member of the Contemporary Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD), continued on April 24, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 31. The indictment seeks the punishment of Seda Şaraldı for “membership in an organization.” The court postponed the trial until June 24, 2025.
Seda Şaraldı was arrested on February 9, 2024, and released at the hearing on February 20, 2025.
(04/182) Trial of a Lawyer in Mersin…
The trial of lawyer Volkan Bilece, a member of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), began on April 24, 2025, at the Mersin Heavy Penal Court No. 6. The indictment seeks the punishment of the lawyer for “membership in an organization.” Following the defense arguments, the court decided to release Volkan Bilece under house arrest and postponed the hearing to May 22, 2025.
Volkan Bilece was arrested on February 15, 2025.
(04/183) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Serpil Topal, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Women’s Assembly (SKM), began on April 24, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26. The indictment seeks the punishment of Serpil Topal for “being a member of an organization.” Following the defenses, the court decided to release Serpil Topal and postponed the hearing to September 18, 2025.
Serpil Topal was arrested on January 24, 2025.
[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.
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[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.