Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/187) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment by the Police in Van…
It is learned that on February 25, 2025, in Seyrantepe neighbourhood of Tuşba district of Van, 2 people in a car stopped by the police were subjected to physical violence and were detained by being handcuffed behind their backs after a quarrel when they asked the police officers “do you have a search warrant?”. The names of people detained could not be learned.
(02/188) Detained Person in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 25, 2026 that, Kocaeli Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Soner Akbal, who reacted to the bell being replaced with a Islamic chant at a school in Kocaeli, and that he was summoned to testify. Soner Akbal was detained on the same day in Istanbul on the charges of ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’ and ‘violation of privacy’ and was released by the criminal court of peace on judicial control conditions on February 26, 2026.
(02/189) Detained Party Executive in Erzincan…
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Erzincan Youth Branch Chair Deniz Turan is detained on February 26, 2026 on the grounds of ‘praising crime and criminal’ through his social media posts and statements.
(02/190) Journalists and Other People on Trial in Istanbul
The trial of the case against 35 people including journalist Engin Deniz İpek, on the grounds of the protests on July 1, 2025 at Saraçhane Square in Fatih district of Istanbul, continued on February 25, 2026 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 64. The indictment demands sentence for 35 people on the charges of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’ and ‘insulting the President’. The court adjourned the trial to March 4, 2026.
(02/191) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök continued on February 26, 2025 at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The indictment demands sentence for Abdurrahman Gök on the charges of ‘being an illegal organization member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The court lifted the ban on leaving the country and judicial control measures against Abdurrahman Gök and adjourned the trial to June 16, 2026.
Abdurrahman Gök was detained in Diyarbakır on April 25, 2023 and arrested on April 27, 2023. The journalist was released at the hearing of the case against him at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on December 5, 2023.
(02/192) LGBTI+ Activists on Trial in Izmir
The trial of the case against 10 LGBTI+ activists who were detained during the police intervention against the press declaration organized in front of RTÜK building in Izmir on September 12, 2023 to protest the acceptance of an event organized by phobic circles as a public spot by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), started on February 25, 2026 at Izmir 51st Criminal Court of First Instance. The indictment demands sentence for 10 people on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’. The court adjourned the trial to June 30, 2026.
(02/193) Specialized Sergeant on Trial in Hakkari…
The trial of the case against specialist sergeant İ.S., on the grounds that he used physical violence against a child in Hakkari and broke his arm, started on February 25, 2026 at Hakkari Penal Court of First Instance No 2. The indictment demands sentence for the defendant specialist sergeant on the charge of ‘intentional injury’. The court adjourned the trial to June 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.