Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 October 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/107) Threatened Journalists…
According to news reports on October 16, 2025, journalists Şule Aydın and Murat Ağırel were threatened and filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the matter.
Şule Aydın stated the following in her press release: “We have received a tip-off; there is a tip-off about a motorcycle attack against Murat and me, stating where it will take place and that the triggermen have been hired. We shared this tip-off with the prosecutor’s office. We filed a complaint.”
(10/108) Threatened Journalist…
News reports on October 16, 2025, revealed that journalist Rabia Önver had received death threats because of her reporting.
(10/109) Prisoners Whose Release Was Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
News reports on October 16, 2025, revealed that it was learned that the release of Nurcan Aslan, an inmate held at the Erzincan Women’s Prison who completed her 16-year and 8-month prison sentence on June 22, 2025, was adjourned for a second time for 4 months by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) on the grounds that she had not developed “awareness of the crime.”
(10/110) Police Intervention in Protest in Hatay…
On September 24, 2025, police intervened in a vigil protest against the seizure of titled land for residential construction in the Kurtderesi neighborhood of Samandağ district in Hatay, detaining two people.
(10/111) Police Intervention in Protest in Ankara…
It was learned that on October 16, 2025, during a march organized by the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) from Diyarbakır to Ankara demanding the reinstatement of public employees dismissed by Decree Law (KHK), police prevented union members and leaders from marching to the Ministry of Justice in Ankara. It was reported that union members and leaders staged a sit-in in response to the police obstruction.
(10/112) Individuals Detained Following Press Conference in Istanbul…
On October 15, 2025, nine people detained after a press statement by Student Collectives in front of the Kadıköy District Directorate of Youth and Sports in Istanbul were released on October 16, 2025, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, with judicial control conditions.
(10/113) Trial of the Co-Chair of the Party and Others in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against Hatice Deniz Aktaş, Co-Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), and ETHA reporters Ebru Yiğit, Nurcan Güllübudak, and Mert Unay, which was opened at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14, was held on October 16, 2025.
The court sentenced Hatice Deniz Aktaş and Ebru Yiğit to 17 years and 1 month in prison and Mert Unay to 20 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court also ordered the arrest of Hatice Deniz Aktaş, Ebru Yiğit, and Mert Unay. The court sentenced Nurcan Güllübudak to 14 years and 7 months in prison but postponed the announcement of the verdict.
Hatice Deniz Aktaş was arrested on January 24, 2025, and was released on house arrest during the hearing of the case on September 10, 2025.
(10/114) Lawyers and Association Members on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of a total of 49 people, including 11 lawyers who are members of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) and 38 who are members of the Association for Solidarity with Detained Families (TUAD), which was closed by a Decree Law (KHK), continued at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14 between October 17, 2025. The court adjourned the hearing until January 28, 2026.
(10/115) Trial of a Journalist in Diyarbakır…
The trial of journalist Berivan Kutlu, which began on October 16, 2025, at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4, continued. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for “making organization propaganda.” The court adjourned the hearing until January 29, 2026.
(10/116) Investigation Launched Against Journalist…
It was learned that an investigation was launched against Özgür Gelecek newspaper reporter Yusuf Çelik by the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and that the journalist was taken to the police station on October 14, 2025, to be questioned. Yusuf Çelik was released after questioning.
It was reported that the reason for the investigation was Yusuf Çelik’s presence at the Nisan Publishing stand at the Munzur Culture and Nature Festival held in Tunceli in July 2025, where books written by İbrahim Kaypakkaya were on display.
(10/117) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against Bekir Aslan, who was tried at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 12 on the grounds of his social media posts, was held on October 16, 2025. The court sentenced Bekir Aslan to 1 year and 6 months in prison for “making organization propaganda.” The court also decided to lift the judicial control measure of signing in for Bekir Aslan, but to continue the judicial control measure of prohibiting him from leaving the country.
(10/118) Person on Trial in Mardin…
The final hearing of the case against 9 people, opened at the Mardin Heavy Penal Court No. 2 as part of an investigation into the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), was held on October 16, 2025. The court acquitted the 9 people of the crime of “being a member of an organization.”
(10/119) Indictment Prepared Against an Individual in Istanbul…
An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against retired Colonel Orkun Özeller, citing his statements about Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, was accepted by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 8 on October 16, 2025. The court also ruled to continue Orkun Özeller’s detention. The first hearing of the case will be held on November 12, 2025.
The indictment seeks to punish Orkun Özeller for the crimes of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “insult.”
Orkun Özeller was arrested on September 17, 2025.
(10/120) Social Media Account Blocked…
On October 16, 2025, news reports appeared in the press regarding the appointment of a trustee to companies belonging to a businessman. https://artigercek.com/, https://www.babaocagi.com/, https://gazeteoksijen.com/.
(10/121) İpek Er Case…
The trial of Specialist Sergeant M.O. in connection with the death of İpek Er, which was opened at the Batman Criminal Court of First Instance No 1, continued on October 16, 2025. The indictment seeks the punishment of the defendant, Specialist Sergeant M.O., for the crime of ‘inciting another person to commit suicide.’ The court rejected the request for M.O.’s arrest and adjourned the hearing until February 12, 2026.
[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.