Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
1 – 3 August 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(08/001) Prisoner Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances in Prison…
According to news reports published on August 2, 2026, it was learned that Özcan Aksu, an prisoner who was arrested on June 22, 2026, and transferred to the Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) Prison, died on July 5, 2026, at the hospital to which he had been taken.
News reports indicate that Özcan Aksu was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, resulting in injuries to various parts of his body.
His sister, Melek Aksu, stated the following in a press statement regarding her visit with Özcan Aksu in prison: “I was shocked when I saw him. They had beaten my brother terribly. They had swollen his eyebrow, eye, and face. Imagine his right eye—they had bruised it from his nose all the way to his ear. His upper lip and the area above two of his teeth were swollen. There was blood on the back of his neck, in his hair, and all over him. When he turned his back to me, the skin on his forearm between his elbow and wrist had been flayed.”
(08/002) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports published on July 31, 2026, it was learned that two prisoners named Dilek Tataş and Güneş Akan, who were being held at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, were transferred to another prison against their will and without their consent. It was not possible to determine to which prison the inmates were transferred.
(08/003) Mayor and Others Detained in Istanbul…
As part of an investigation into Istanbul’s Üsküdar Municipality, four of the six individuals detained on July 29, 2026—including Mayor Sinem Dedetaş—were remanded in custody by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred on July 31, 2026, while two others were released under judicial supervision.
(08/004) Mayor and Others Detained in Ankara…
Of the 55 people detained on July 30, 2026, as part of an investigation targeting the Ankara Etimesgut Municipality, 40—including Mayor Erdal Beşikçioğlu—were remanded in custody on August 3, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “forming an organization for the purpose of committing a crime, membership in an organization,” “embezzlement,” “bribery,” “extortion,” “bid-rigging,” and “abuse of office,” while 15 others—including 14 released under judicial supervision—were released.
(08/005) Individuals Detained in Uşak…
Of the 17 individuals detained on July 29, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Uşak Municipality, 9 were arrested on August 1, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “corruption,” “bribery,” “extortion,” and “bid-rigging.” One person was released after giving a statement to the gendarmerie, four were released after giving statements to the prosecutor’s office, and three were released by the magistrate’s court under judicial supervision.
(08/006) Publishing House Employees Detained in Tunceli…
According to news reports published on July 31, 2026, it was learned that Nihat Göktaş and Emir Han were taken to the Tunceli Provincial Police Department on the grounds of displaying books at booths set up by Ceylan Publications and Peri Publications during the 24th Munzur Culture and Nature Festival held in Tunceli.
The report also noted that books displayed at the booths of the two publishing houses were seized upon the prosecutor’s orders.
According to news reports published on August 1, 2026, a person named Mürüvet Küçük was detained on the grounds of a book published by Şubat Yayınları that was on display at the Altınteri newspaper’s booth.
(08/007) Member of Parliament Under Investigation…
According to news reports published on August 2, 2026, it was learned that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched an investigation into Sera Kadıgil, an Istanbul Member of Parliament from the Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP), on the grounds of “insulting the President” in connection with a speech she delivered in Izmir.
(08/008) Journalist Under Investigation…
According to news reports on August 2, 2026, it was learned that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched an investigation into journalist Ertuğrul Özkök on the grounds of “insulting the President,” citing remarks he made during a program he participated in.
(08/009) Mayor Removed from Office…
Sinem Dedetaş, the mayor of Üsküdar, who was arrested on July 31, 2026, was removed from office by the Ministry of the Interior on August 1, 2026.
(08/010) Internet Content Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been reported that the X social media account belonging to the “İstanbul Yargılıyor” platform—which shared allegations, defenses, and real-time developments from the courtroom in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) case—was blocked by a July 31, 2026, decision of the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace No. 8 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.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[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.