Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 – 18 March 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/081) Child Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Şırnak…
It is learned that on March 17, 2026, a boy named B.K. (15, m) was detained in Cizre district of Şırnak for wearing a jersey with Kurdistan written on it, and was subjected to physical violence and was wounded in various parts of his body when he objected to the forced removal of the jersey. B.K. was released on the same day to be taken his statement later by the juvenile prosecutor’s office.
(03/082) Newspaper Employee Forced to be a Spy in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 17, 2026 that Baran Tink, an employee of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper in Izmir, was forced to be a spy by people claiming themselves as police officers. Baran Tink stated the following in his statement to the press “While I was distributing the newspaper, people stopped me and said ‘We know where you are and what you do. You have to meet with us. We have new files on your behalf. We wanted to talk to you first, but if you refuse, we will put these files in front of you’ and offered me to be a spy.”
(03/083) Person Subjected to Physical Violence by Police Officers in Hakkari…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 16, 2026 that, a person named Habip A. was subjected to physical violence of municipality police officers in Hakkari and was wounded in the head.
(03/084) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 16, 2026 that, in Kırşehir S Type Prison, the hot water given to prisoners is limited to 40 liters per week and prisoners are not given Yeni Yaşam, BirGün and Evrensel newspapers.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 17, 2026 that, Emir Sağlam, a member of Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), who is kept with judicial prisoners in Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) L Type Prison No 1, was subjected to physical violence of the wardens for rejecting to stand up for roll-calls. It is also learned from the news reports that Emir Sağlam was sentenced to 5 months of deprivation of visitation through disciplinary proceedings for various reasons.
(03/085) Prisoners Adjourned to Release by Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 16, 2026 that, the release of 10 prisoners including 3 prisoners (Nurullah Sertkaya, Ebubekir Yulu and Cemil İvredi) in Kırşehir S Type Prison, who have completed the execution of their life sentences, has been adjourned by Prison Administration and Monitoring Board (CİGK).
(03/086) Detained Mayor and Other People…
5 of 6 people including Aydın Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, who were detained through an Istanbul based investigation on March 13, 2026, are arrested by the criminal court of peace on March 16, 2026 due to ‘bribery’ and ‘extortion’. 1 person was released on judicial control conditions. The names of the arrested people are: Ömer Günel, Burak Gündeş, Meral Celep, Ferdi Zenginoğlu and Hüseyin Kabasakal. The person released on judicial control conditions: Ahmet Taşkan
(03/087) Arrested Journalist and Other Person…
2 people (journalist Bilal Özcan and Semih Palancı) who were detained on the grounds of their social media posts about the death of Ayşegül Eraslan were arrested by the criminal court of peace on the charge of ‘publicly spreading misleading information’ on March 17, 2026.
(03/088) Arrested Person in Burdur…
Gamze Gökçe, who was detained in Burdur on the grounds of her social media posts, is arrested by the criminal court of peace on March 15, 2026 on the charge of ‘provoking hatred and hostility among people and insulting them’.
(03/089) Suspended Mayor…
Ömer Günel, the mayor of Kuşadası district of Aydın, who was arrested on March 16, 2026 through an Istanbul based investigation, was suspended from his duty by the Ministry of Interior on May 17, 2026.
(03/090) Parliament Members with Proceedings Against Them…
On March 17, 2026, it is learned from the news coverage of March 17, 2026 that, proceedings on 4 parliamentary members demanding lifting of their parliamentary immunity are sent to Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
MPs against whom proceedings have been prepared:
Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman and Manisa MP Özgür Özel
CHP Group Deputy Chairman and Mersin MP Ali Mahir Basarir
CHP Ankara MP Umut Akdogan
IYI Party Bursa MP Yüksel Selçuk Türkoğlu
(03/091) Social Media Accounts Blocked from Access…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 13, 2026 that access to X social media account of Voice of America Kurdish service was banned under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protection of national security and public order and the account was made invisible from Turkey.
[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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[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.