Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
8 May 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/042) Refugee Child Who Lost His Life in Izmir…
According to news reports on May 8, 2026, it was learned that 43 refugees were rescued alive from a partially submerged boat located off the coast of Foça district in Izmir by coast guard personnel on May 6, 2026, while one child had died.
(05/043) Individuals Detained in Ankara…
It was reported on May 8, 2026, that at least six university students were detained in connection with incidents that occurred during a concert held as part of the traditional Spring Festival at Middle East Technical University (METU).
(05/044) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On May 8, 2026, 29 people—including municipal officials and academic Prof. Dr. Yasin Çağatay Seçkin—were detained on charges of “tampering with a tender” as part of an investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).
(12/045) Trial of Journalists in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case filed at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 39 against journalists Zeynep Kuray, Mahsum Sağlam, Pelin Laçin, Yadigar Aygün, and Yağmur Filiz—regarding a press statement made in Istanbul concerning the deaths of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Northern and Eastern Syria—was held on May 8, 2026. While the court acquitted the five journalists of the charge of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911,” it sentenced Yağmur Filiz to a fine of 35,400 TL for the offense of “insulting a public official.”
(05/046) Individuals on Trial in İzmir…
The trial of 23 people who were detained during a police intervention at a meetig held by youth organizations on October 31, 2022in front of the Türkan Saylan Cultural Center in Izmir to protest the arrest of Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, former President of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Central Council and member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), along with nine journalists and the death of workes at a mine in Bartın, was held on May 7, 2026 at the İzmir Criminal Court of First Instance N0 44. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 23 individuals on charges of “Violation of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations (No. 2911).” The court adjourned the hearing until May 21, 2026.
(05/047) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of singer Fatih Karaca, known as Mabel Matiz, was held on May 8, 2026, at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 54, on the grounds of his song titled “Perperişan.” The court acquitted the artist of the charge of “facilitating the publication of obscene materials.”
(05/048) Person on Trial in Eskişehir…
The trial of the individual named M.E.K., on the grounds of a social media post regarding the Mayor of Mihalgazi, continued on May 8, 2026, at the EskişehirCourt of First Instance No. 11. The indictment seeks the defendant’s conviction on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” and “insult.” The court ordered M.E.K.’s release under the condition of a travel ban abroad and adjourned the hearing to May 15, 2026.
M.E.K. had been arrested on February 8, 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.