Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
3 – 4 June 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/031) Male Violence Monitoring Report……
According to the “Record of Male Violence” published by Bianet, at least 14 women and 2 children were killed by men across Turkey in May 2026. The report also noted that men subjected at least 46 women to violence, harassed 18 women, abused 14 children, and forced 106 women into sex work.
(06/032) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It was learned from news reports on June 2, 2026, that two LGBT+ prisoners held at the Eskişehir Prison were subjected to discrimination, torture, and other ill-treatment due to their sexual orientation. The report stated that on May 8, 2026, prison guards who entered the inmates’ cell turned off their body cameras and threatened the inmates by saying, “Don’t forget what happened to your friends in Sincan (…) We’ll kill you here, and nothing will happen to us,” and that physical violence was inflicted on the inmates. It was noted that the injured inmates were not taken to the infirmary, and their requests for medical reports documenting the physical violence they endured were denied. The report also alleged that an LGBT+ inmate withdrew their complaint following the threats they faced, while another inmate who refused to withdraw their complaint was taken to a solitary confinement cell where a razor blade was left tied to a rope near the window. It was alleged that the inmate who attempted suicide was taken to the hospital following calls for help from inmates in other cells.
It is also learned from news reports that another LGBTI+ inmate held in the same cell has attempted suicide five times due to the discrimination, torture, and other ill-treatment he faced.
(06/033) Inmate Whose Release Was Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
It was learned from news reports on June 3, 2026, it was learned that the release of Mahsum Bilem, an inmate held at Kırşehir Type S Prison who completed his life sentence on May 25, 2026, was adjourned for six months by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) on the grounds that “no conviction of guilt had been established.”
(06/034) Interventions and Bans Targeting Pride Month…
It was reported that during the 4th Pride March held on June 3, 2026, at the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts campus, participants were subjected to verbal and physical violence by private security units.
(06/035) Police Intervention at a Protest in Tekirdağ…
On June 3, 2026, it was reported that a march planned by workers in Edirne who had not received their wages—intended to proceed from the Uzunköprü district to the company’s office in central Tekirdağ—was blocked at two separate points by the gendarmerie and police. It was reported that during the police intervention, a police officer slapped a worker.
(06/036) Individuals Arrested in İzmir…
Two individuals (Municipal Council Member Gizem Göçtü and Şamil Göçtü) who were detained as part of an investigation targeting the Güzelbahçe District Municipality in İzmir were arrested by the magistrate’s court on June 4, 2026. Earlier in the same investigation, Mayor Mustafa Günay and Urban Planning and Urban Development Director Özgür Bayraktar had been detained, while three others—including former Mayor Özdem Mustafa İnce—were released on judicial supervision.
(06/037) Trial of a Journalist in Tunceli…
The final hearing in the case against journalist Cihan Berk, filed at the Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No. 1, was held on June 3, 2026. The court sentenced the journalist to 6 years and 3 months in prison for the charge of “being a member of an organization” and ordered his release upon sentencing.
Cihan Berk had been arrested on December 19, 2025.
(06/038) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case against journalist Ercüment Akdeniz, filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26 as part of an investigation targeting the Democratic Congress of the Peoples (HDK), was held on June 2, 2026. The court acquitted Ercüment Akdeniz of the charge of “being a member of an organization.”
Ercüment Akdeniz had been arrested on February 22, 2025, and released at the hearing held on October 23, 2025.
(06/039) Journalist and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial, filed at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 9 against 20 individuals—including journalist Fatoş Erdoğan—on the grounds of social media posts regarding the appointment of a trustee to the CHP Istanbul Provincial Directorate, continued on June 3, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 20 individuals on charges of “openly inciting others to commit a crime.” The court decided to lift all judicial control measures against the defendants and adjourned the hearing until October 21, 2026.
(06/040) Indictment Prepared Against the Mayor…
It was reported that the indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 19 individuals—including Bolu Mayor Tanju Özkan, six of whom are in custody—was accepted by the Bolu Heavy Penal Court No. 3 on June 3, 2026. The indictment seeks the prosecution of the 19 individuals on charges of “extortion,” “aggravated fraud,” and “bribery.” The first hearing of the case is scheduled for July 6, 2026.
Tanju Özcan was arrested on March 2, 2026, and was suspended from office by the Ministry of the Interior on March 3, 2026.
(06/041) Political Party Executive on Trial in Mardin…
The final hearing in the case filed at the Mardin Heavy Penal Court No. 2 against Mehmet Salih Gültekin, the former co-chair of the Savur District Branch of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), on the grounds of his social media posts and the Kurdish songs he used in those posts, was held on June 2, 2026. The court sentenced Mehmet Salih Gültekin to 1 year and 6 months in prison on charges of “making organization propaganda.”
(06/042) Seyithan Durdu Case…
Regarding the death of Seyithan Duru on December 28, 2024, in the rural neighborhood of Avzêrk, Saray district, Van, as a result of gunfire opened by soldiers, the case filed against Y.A., the commander of the Tulgalı Border Post, 3rd Border Battalion, Border Regiment, at Van Heavy Penal Court No. 1 resumed on June 3, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the accused soldier for the crime of “manslaughter with intent.” The court adjourned the hearing until July 1, 2026.
(06/043) Social Media Accounts Subject to Access Restrictions…
It was learned that the X social media account belonging to the Cumhuriyet newspaper was subject to an access restriction pursuant to a decision dated April 29, 2026, by the Elazığ Criminal Court of Peace No. 2, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
Regarding the “Visa Empire,” an access restriction was imposed on 1 news article and 2 social media posts published on the https://kisadalga.net/ website, pursuant to a decision by the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace No. 5 dated June 2, 2026, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order. It was also reported that an access ban was imposed on 2 news articles and 1 social media post related to the same series of articles on the websites https://bianet.org/ and https://www.medyaradar.net/, pursuant to the decision of the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace No. 7 dated June 3, 2026, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
[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.