Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/131) Police Intervention Against Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the march of Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul on February 17, 2026 to protest privatization of bridges and detained 3 people.
(02/132) Detained People in Balıkesir…
On February 18, 2026, 13 people including Polen Ecology Collective members Çise Yıldız and Yücel Kurşun, DEM Party members and executives were detained in house raids in Balıkesir. The reason for detention was not learned. The names of the detainees are as follows Cemal Camekan, Doruk Yıldırım, Çise Yıldız, Yücel Kurşun.
(02/133) Detained People in Istanbul…
On February 18, 2026, 13 people including DEM Party members are detained in house raids in Istanbul. The names of detainees and the reason of detention could not be learned.
(02/134) Detained Cartoonist in Ankara…
Cartoonist Öznur Kalender is detained at Ankara Train Station on February 18, 2026, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ in a social media post.
(02/135) Former Co-Mayor on Trial in Hakkari…
On February 18, 2026, the retrial of the case against Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was elected as Hakkari co-mayor in March 31 local elections and was replaced by a trustee by the Ministry of Interior on June 3, 2024, on the charge of ‘leading an illegal organization’ in the case on Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 1, was continued after the sentence of 19 years and 6 months was reversed by Van Regional Court of Appeals. The court decided to continue detention of Mehmet Sıddık Akış and adjourned the trial to April 29, 2026.
Mehmet Sıddık Akış was sentenced to 19 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘leading an illegal organisation’ at the final trial held on June 5, 2024 and was arrested upon the verdict.
(02/136) Journalists and Other People on Trial in Istanbul
The trial of the case against journalists Tuğçe Yılmaz, Erdoğan Alayumat, Suzan Demir, Taylan Abatan, Gülcan Dereli, translator Serap Güneş and sociologist Berfin Atlı continued on February 17, 2026 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13.
The indictment demands sentence for 7 people including 5 journalists on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organization’.
The court adjourned the trial to April 28, 2026.
(02/137) Journalists on Trial in Mardin…
The first trial of the case against journalists Öznur Değer and Osman Akın, on the grounds of a news report on torture allegations, started on February 17, 2026 at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2.
The indictment demands sentence for journalists on the charge of ‘targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism’.
The court adjourned the trial to May 21, 2026.
(02/138) Journalists on Trial in Rize…
The first trial of the case against journalists Gençağa Karafazlı and Şenol Öksüz, on the grounds of their news reports on Rize Provincial Director of National Education, started on February 17, 2026 at Rize Penal Court of First Instance No 2. The indictment demands sentence for journalists on the charge of ‘violation of privacy’. The court adjourned the trial to June 4, 2026.
(02/139) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Nisanur Yıldırım, upon the complaint of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, for a news report she made, continued on February 4, 2026 at Istanbul Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 2. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘insulting a public official’. The court adjourned the trial to June 11, 2026.
(02/140) Indictment Against Journalist…
On February 17, 2026, it is learned from news coverage of February 17, 2026 that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against journalist Enver Aysever for his remarks on a social media broadcast. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘inciting or insulting the public to hatred and hostility’.
Enver Aysever was arrested on December 11, 2025.
(02/141) Political Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul
The final hearing of the lawsuit filed on the grounds of a social media post about former Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor was held on February 17, 2026 at Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court ruled Cem Aydın to pay 60.000 TL compensation for ‘insult’.
(02/142) Person on Trial in Eskişehir
The final trial of the case against Kuban Kural, a member of Eskişehir Platform for Solidarity with Palestine, on the grounds of his speech at an event, is held at Eskişehir Criminal Court of First Instance on February 17, 2026. The court acquitted Kuban Kural on the charge of ‘insulting state institutions’.
(02/143) Indictment Against a Child in Izmir…
On the grounds of his social media posts, the indictment prepared by Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against A.K. (16, k) was accepted by Izmir Juvenile Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 17, 2026. The indictment demands sentence for the child on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The first hearing of the case will be held on March 3, 2026.
A.K. was arrested on February 5, 2026.
(02/144) Party Executive’s Phobic and Discriminatory Speech…
Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy Chairman and Human Rights Chairman Hasan Basri Yalçın made the following phobic and discriminatory statements in his speech at the “Human Rights and Family Summit” organized by his party on February 18, 2026 “Unfortunately, for example, today we see that many opposition parties in our country, especially the main opposition party, do not even have a clear position on the family. We don’t really know what they say against LGBT aggression. They have not produced a clear position on the LGBT issue.”
(02/145) MPs Against Whom Proceedings are Prepared…
On February 17, 2026, it is learned from the news coverage of February 17, 2026 that, 2 proceedings on 2 parliamentary members of parliament demanding lifting of their parliamentary immunity were sent to Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
Members of parliament against whom proceedings have been prepared:
CHP Group Deputy Chairman and Ankara Deputy Murat Emir
CHP Group Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP Gökhan Günaydın
(02/146) Access Restricted Internet Content…
It is learned that 1 news report on https://www.birgun.net/ website was banned to access on the grounds of protection of national security and public order by Kayseri Penal Court of Peace No 4 on February 17, 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.