Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
5 – 8 June 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/044) Mayor and Others Detained in Izmir…
On June 1, 2026, 54 people were detained as part of an investigation targeting the Buca District Municipality in Izmir; 42 of them, including Mayor Görkem Duman and former Mayor Erhan Kılıç, were arrested on June 5, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “forming an organization to commit a crime and membership in such an organization,” “bribery,” and “embezzlement.” Twelve others were released on judicial supervision.
(06/045) Political Party Leader Detained in Uşak…
It was learned that Hakan Savaş, the former Chairman of the İYİ Party’s Uşak Central District and the former Provincial Chairman of the Zafer Party in Uşak, was detained on June 4, 2026, based on a social media post he made, and was released the same day by the magistrate’s court under judicial supervision with a travel ban.
(06/046) Interventions, Detentions, and Bans Targeting Pride Month…
According to news reports on June 7, 2026, police who arrived at the home of LGBT+ activist Arjin took her to the Taksim Şehit Haşim Usta Police Station to give a statement, despite there being no arrest warrant against her. She was released after giving a statement as part of an investigation initiated on the grounds that she had hung a trans flag.
(06/047) Individuals Detained in Antalya…
On June 2, 2026, two of the four individuals detained as part of an investigation targeting the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality were remanded in custody by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred on June 4, 2026, while two others—one following police questioning and the other after giving a statement at the prosecutor’s office—were released.
(06/048) Former MP Arrested…
Following the confirmation by the Criminal Chamber No. 4 of the Court of Cassation of the 1-year-and-2-month prison sentence imposed on former MP Mahmut Alınak for the crime of “insulting the President” in a case filed against him based on his book titled “Mehmet Tunç and Bêkes,” it was learned that he was taken into custody on June 4, 2026, and subsequently arrested and transferred to Kars Prison.
(06/049) The Trial in Istanbul Involving the Mayor and Others…
The trial, which was initiated at the Istanbul Anatolia Heavy Penal Court No. 17 against 26 individuals—including Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler—four of whom are in custody, continued on June 5, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 26 individuals on charges of “bid-rigging,” “aggravated fraud,” and “forgery of official documents.” Following the defense arguments, the court ruled to extend the detention of Alaattin Köseler and two others, while ordering the release of one individual under house arrest, and adjourned the hearing until July 13, 2026.
Of the 26 individuals taken into custody, 13 were arrested on March 4, 2025, and Alaattin Köseler was removed from his position by the Ministry of the Interior. Alaattin Köseler was released at the first hearing of the case on September 5, 2025, but was re-arrested following an objection by the prosecution.
(06/050) The Trial of a Journalist in Ankara…
The trial of journalist İsmail Arı, initiated at the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 on the grounds of his news reports and social media posts, began on June 5, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crimes of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “violation of confidentiality.” The court ruled to release İsmail Arı and adjourned the hearing to October 9, 2026.
İsmail Arı had been arrested on March 23, 2026.
(06/051) Political Party Member on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Muhammet Çelik, a member of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), began on June 4, 2026, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28. The indictment seeks to punish Muhammet Çelik for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court decided to release Muhammet Çelik under house arrest as a condition of judicial supervision and postponed the hearing to a later date.
Muhammet Çelik had been arrested on February 3, 2025.
(06/052) Journalists and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial, which was initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 51 regarding the 53 individuals—including journalists Evrim Gündüz, Nur Kaya, and Yusuf Çelik—who were detained following the police intervention at the 23rd Istanbul Pride March held on June 29, 2025, continued on June 5, 2025. The indictment seeks to punish the 53 individuals for the crime of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911.” The court adjourned the hearing until December 4, 2026.
Among those detained, Sinem Çelebi, Hivda Selen, and Doğan Nur were arrested on June 30, 2025; Doğan Nur was released on July 30, 2025, following a court order, while Sinem Çelebi and Hivda Selen were released on August 8, 2025.
(06/053) The Trial of a Lawyer in Mersin…
The final hearing in the case filed against Lawyer Volkan Bilece, a member of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), at the Mersin Heavy Penal Court No. 6 was held on June 5, 2026. The court acquitted the lawyer of the charge of “being a member of an organization.”
Volkan Bilece was arrested on February 15, 2025, and was released on April 24, 2025, following a hearing in the case, subject to house arrest as a condition of judicial supervision.
(06/054) A Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of commentator Erman Toroğlu, initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 58 based on remarks he made on a television program regarding Galatasaray Club and its President, began on June 5, 2026. The court, which announced its decision at the first hearing, acquitted Erman Toroğlu of the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information.”
Erman Toroğlu had been detained on February 9, 2026, and released on judicial supervision.
(06/055) Mayor Removed from Office…
Görkem Duman, the mayor of Buca district in İzmir, who was arrested on June 5, 2026, was removed from office by the Ministry of the Interior on June 8, 2026.
(06/056) Concert Banned in Ankara…
According to news reports on June 4, 2026, it was learned that the concert to be held by Iranian musician Mohsen Namjoo on June 13, 2026, in Çankaya district of Ankara was banned by the Çankaya District Governor’s Office, citing “justified sensitivities in public opinion” as the reason.
[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.