Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 – 23 March 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/092) Suspicious Death of a Prisoner in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 20, 2026 that, Sinan Can Kandemir (31), a prisoner in Samsun T Type Prison, died suspiciously on March 17, 2026. It is reported in the news reports that a judicial investigation is initiated on Sinan Can Kandemir’s death.
(03/093) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 18, 2026 that, Devrim Ayık, an ill prisoner in Antalya S Type Prison was subjected to physical violence of gendarmerie on duty during transfer to hospital and was wounded in various parts of his body.
(03/094) Prisoner’s Release Adjourned by Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 18, 2026 that, the release of Adem Oktay, a prisoner in Karabük T Type Prison, who completed his prison sentence in 2023, was adjourned by Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) for 9 months on the grounds of “lack of remorse”. It is stated in the news reports that Adem Oktay’s release was adjourned 7 times before.
(03/095) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
On March 18, 2026, the police intervened the groups dispersing after the rally at Saraçhane Square in Fatih district of Istanbul to commemorate the anniversary of detention and arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and detained 35 people. 31 of them are released after statement procedures at the police on March 19, 2026. 2 of 4 people who were referred to the criminal court of peace are arrested (one on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ and the other on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent duty’), 2 of them are released on judicial control conditions.
(03/096) Interventions Against Newroz Celebrations…
On March 21, 2026, the police intervened the Newroz celebration in Kocaeli and detained at least 9 people by using physical violence. The police intervened the people who objected to the ban of flags of political parties, yellow, red, green accessories and scarves with the picture of Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and detained at least 9 people. It is learned that Ömer Yıldız, Gebze district co-chair of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) was subjected to physical violence of the police and was injured on his face.
On March 21, 2026, it is learned that some people who came to Newroz celebration in Diyarbakır in local clothes were prevented by the police on the grounds of their clothes.
On March 22, 2026, 26 people including 2 children and 1 refugee were detained on the grounds of the slogans chanted and local clothes they wore during the Newroz celebration at Yenikapı Square in Istanbul. It is learned that 25 people were released on the same day, while 1 refugee, reported to be a Syrian citizen, was taken to the Foreigners Department to be transferred to a deportation center.
On March 22, 2026, it is learned that people who came to Tatvan district of Bitlis to attend Newroz celebration were subjected to a general identity check (GBT) and yellow, red, green accessories and scarves with Kurdistan written on them were seized by the police.
(03/097) Arrested Journalist…
BirGün reporter İsmail Arı, who was detained in Tokat on March 21, 2026 through an Ankara based investigation on a news report he made, is arrested by the criminal court of peace on March 22, 2026 on the charge of ‘publicly spreading misleading information’.
(03/098) Political Party Banners Taken Down in Trabzon…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 20, 2026 that banners of CHP hanging on overpasses in Akçabat district of Trabzon, with IBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu’s message on Eid al-Fitr, were taken down by General Directorate of Highways (KGM) teams.
(03/099) Blocked Internet Contents…
It is learned that 3 news reports on https://www.olay53.com/ , https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/, https://halktv.com.tr/ websites about the closure of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University without taking any students are banned to access on the grounds of protection of national security and public order within the scope of Article 8/A of Law No. 5651.
[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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[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.