Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
13 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/099) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 12, 2026 that, A.K. (16, k), who was arrested in Izmir on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ in a social media post, was subjected to strip search at the entrance of Izmir Şakran Juvenile Prison. It is also claimed in the news reports that A.K. was subjected to physical violence by other prisoners in the ward where he was kept.
(02/100) Person Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 13, 2026 that, a person named Mehmet Şah Karataş was subjected to torture and ill-treatment and his phone was seized at Kartaltepe Police Station in Bakırköy district of Istanbul, where he went upon a complaint of Bakırköy Municipality police officers who he claimed threatened him. It is also stated in the news reports that Mehmet Şah Karataş was detained on the charges of ‘resisting to prevent duty’ and ‘damaging public property’ and was released by the criminal court of peace on house confinement.
Mehmet Şah Karataş stated the following in his statement to the press “At least 10 police officers descended on me to take my phone. They made me lie on the ground and handcuffed my hands behind my back. I was subjected to violence and torture in the forensic procedure room. They also used violence in the corridor, threatening and insulting me in the process. They also beat me in the lawyer interview room. They threw the phone against the wall and tore my clothes (…) The police attributed a fracture in the wall to me and charged me with ‘resisting an officer’ and ‘damaging property’.”
(02/101) Journalist on Trial in Mardin…
The trial of the case against journalist Öznur Değer continued on February 10, 2026 at Mardin Midyat Penal Court of First Instance No 1. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘insulting a public officer’. The court adjourned the trial to June 26, 2026.
(11/102) Journalist on Trial in Batman…
The trial of the case against journalist Mehmet Üçar is held at Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 12, 2026. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to April 3, 2026.
Mehmet Üçar was arrested on November 26, 2024 and released at the first hearing of the case on July 8, 2025.
(06/103) Journalists and Other People on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 66 people including journalist Zişan Gür, who were detained by using physical violence during the police intervention against the demonstration held on March 23, 2025 at Saraçhane Square in Fatih district of Istanbul to protest the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, continued on February 13, 2026 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 26.
The indictment demands sentence for 66 people on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’.
The court adjourned the trial to July 3, 2026.
26 of 66 detainees were detained by the Criminal Court of Peace on March 26, 2026. 40 people were released on judicial control conditions. The 26 people who were arrested were released on April 10, 2025 with the acceptance of the indictment prepared against them.
(02/104) Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the lawsuit filed on the grounds of Cem Aydın, the chair of the CHP Youth Branch, for his social media post about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor was held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 12 on February 12, 2026. The court sentenced Cem Aydın to 1 year 5 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘publicly insulting a public officer for his duty’ and acquitted him on the charge of ‘targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism’.
(02/104) Academic on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against academician Aslı Aydemir, for reacting to the attack against LeMan magazine’s office in Beyoğlu, started on February 12, 2026 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 8.
The indictment demands sentence for the academician on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent duty’.
The court adjourned the hearing to June 23, 2026.
Aslı Aydemir was arrested on July 4, 2025 and released on January 14, 2026.
(02/105) Istanbul’ People on Trial…
The final trial of the case against 10 people who were detained by using physical violence during the police intervention to the demonstration in Şişli district of Istanbul on March 26, 2025 to protest in the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, President of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 19 on February 13, 2026. The court acquitted 10 people on the charge of ‘opposing to Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’.
(02/106) Ipek Er Case…
The trial of the case against specialist sergeant M.O. on İpek Er’s death continued on February 12, 2026 at Batman Penal Court of First Instance No 1. The indictment demands sentence for the defendant specialist sergeant M.O. on the charge of ‘leading another person to suicide’. The court lifted the previous verdict on the demand of Batman Bar Association Women’s Rights Center and various associations to join the case and adjourned the trial to April 22, 2026.
(02/107) Detained People in Istanbul Based Investigation…
On 13 February 2026, 93 people, who were previously dismissed from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and are still on active duty, were detained in operations conducted in 11 provinces through an Istanbul based investigation on the allegations of establishing connections between them in accordance with organizational communication techniques and engaging in organizational activities.
[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.