Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 January 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/125) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Mardin…
It is learned that 1 person (Diyar Koç) was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during the intervention of security forces to the protests and attempts to cross the border in Nusaybin district of Mardin on January 20, 2026. It is stated in the news reports that Diyar Koç was subjected to be beaten, handcuffed behind his back and kept in this position after cold water was poured on him. It is reported that Diyar Koç, who was wounded in various parts of his body due to torture and ill-treatment, was first taken to Nusaybin State Hospital and then transferred to Mardin Education and Research Hospital due to his serious condition.
(01/126) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Şırnak…
It is learned from news coverage of January 21, 2026 that, during the police raid to a cafe in Cizre district of Şırnak, 6 people and the owner of the cafe were subjected to physical violence of the police and were detained afterwards. People were subjected to torture and ill-treatment: Café owner İdiris Kılıcı and Nurullah Kurami, Ercan Sansak, Umut Hakkolu, Recep Turan, Mehdi Gerden and Devrim Karagöz.
(01/127) Police Intervention to Protests in Mardin, Iğdır, Istanbul, Urfa, Ankara, Mersin…
The police intervened the protest organized on January 21, 2026 in Nusaybin district of Mardin for the attacks against Kurds in Syria and detained at least 17 people by using physical violence.
The police intervened the protest organized for the same cause in Iğdır on January 21, 2026 and detained 52 people including Iğdır co-mayor Necla Kum, using physical violence. 34 people were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. It is learned that 18 people are still under custody.
The police intervened the protest organized for the same cause in Sultangazi district of Istanbul on January 21, 2026 and detained 20 people.
The police intervened the protest for the same cause in Viranşehir district of Urfa on January 21, 2026 and detained 8 people.
It is learned that the police prevented the march for the same cause in Çankaya district of Ankara on January 21, 2026. It is learned that no one was detained during the intervention.
It is learned that the police intervened the march for the same cause in Akdeniz district of Mersin on January 21, 2026. It is learned that no one was detained during the intervention.
(01/128) Detained Journalists in Mardin…
At least 5 journalists were detained by the police using physical violence while covering a protest in Nusaybin district of Mardin on January 20, 2026, about the attacks against Kurds in Syria. It is learned that detention period of journalists was extended for 1 day.
Detained journalists are: Kesira Önel, Co-Chair of Dicle and Fırat Journalists Association and journalists Heval Önkol, Ferhat Akıncı, Pelşin Çetinkaya, Muhammet Ali Yılmaz.
(01/129) French Citizen Journalist Detained While Following News in Istanbul…
French citizen journalist Raphaël Boucandora, who was detained on January 20, 2026 in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul while he was following a protest about attacks against Kurds in Syria, and was taken to Arnavutköy Repatriation Center, is released on January 21, 2026.
(01/130) LGBTI+ Activist Detained in Istanbul…
LGBTI+ and Free Young Women activist Eylem Sıla Bayram was detained on January 21, 2026 in Istanbul. The reason for detention could not be learned.
(01/131) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalists Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan and Erdoğan Alayumat continued on February 11, 2025 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 25. The indictment demands sentence for journalists on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to April 7, 2026.
Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan and Erdoğan Alayumat were arrested on April 26, 2024 and Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 25 released the journalists on May 21, 2024.
(01/132) Mayor and Party Executives on Trial in Bolu…
The final trial of the case against Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Bolu Provincial Chair Tahsin Mert Karagöz and CHP Central District Chair Çetin Uç, for their speeches during the protests against the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor, is held at Bolu Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on January 21, 2026. The court acquitted 3 people on the charge of ‘insulting the President’.
(01/133) Access Ban on Social Media Accounts and Websites…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 21, 2026 that, 2 websites of Mezopotamya and Jinnews news agencies were banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order upon the request of Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) and their social media accounts were made invisible from Turkey.
It is learned on January 21, 2026 from the news coverage of January 21, 2026 that 3 X social media accounts of Mezopotamya news agency in Turkish, Kurdish and English are banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, upon the demand of BTK.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 21, 2026 that 2 X social media accounts of Jinnews news agency in Turkish and Kurdish were banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, upon BTK’s demand.
It is learned on January 21, 2026 from the news coverage of January 21, 2026 that social media accounts of Etkin News Agency (ETHA) are banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, upon BTK’s demand.
It is learned on January 21, 2026 from the news coverage of January 21, 2026 that social media accounts of Yeni Yaşam newspaper are banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, upon BTK’s demand.
It is learned from news coverage of January 21, 2026 that journalists Roni Aydın Dere, Akın Olgun, Yasin Kobulan, Erdal Er, Rawin Sterk, Günay Aslan, Memed Drews, Nuri Akman, Amed Dicle and Doğan Cihan and 11 social media accounts of Özgür TV were banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, upon BTK’s demand.
(01/134) Discriminatory and Phobic Speech of MP…
On January 21, 2026, media reports stated that Justice and Development Party (AKP) Kocaeli MP Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu made the following phobic and discriminatory statements in her speech at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM): “If we fail to protect our children today, we will make them targets of terrorist organizations, criminal gangs and structures such as LGBTI+. This is not an assertion, this is an observation. Silence against this threat is not neutrality but irresponsibility.”
[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.