Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 September 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/136) Prisoner Who Lost His Life in Prison…
According to news reports published on 22 September 2026, it was learned that a prisoner named Şiyar Çiçek, who was being held at Eskişehir Prison, had died under suspicious circumstances. The reports stated that, on the date of his death, Şiyar Çiçek had been held in a single-occupancy cell for 10 days.
Şiyar Çiçek’s father stated the following in his statement to the press: “They rang us yesterday and said, ‘Your son is ill; we’re taking him to hospital.’ My son only had diabetes; he was in very good health, but he lost his life (…) The public prosecutor’s office knew my son had died. However, they did this to shift the blame onto the hospital. They claimed my son’s death occurred in hospital, yet he actually passed away in prison (…) My son had been in solitary confinement for 10 days. Had he been in a shared cell, we could have found out what happened. But because he was in solitary confinement, we do not know what befell him”
(09/137) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports published on 22 September 2026, it was learned that Savaş Gecirgen, a prisoner held at Adana Suluca Prison, was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by gendarmes on duty whilst being transferred to hospital.
(09/138) The Hakan Tosun Case…
The trial, brought before the Istanbul Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court No. 17 against two individuals, Abdurrahman Murat and Adnan Şahin, in connection with the death of journalist Hakan Tosun, continued on 22 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of both men on charges of “murder with intent”. The court ruled that the two defendants should remain in custody and adjourned the hearing until 7 October 2026.
(09/139) Author Detained…
On 22 September 2026, the writer Suzan Samancı, who had come to Turkey from Switzerland where she resides, was detained at Istanbul Airport on the grounds of “spreading organisational propaganda”. Following her statement to the Diyarbakır Magistrates’ Court via SEGBIS on the same day, she was released subject to a travel ban and judicial supervision.
(09/140) Individuals Detained in Izmir…
On 23 September 2026, as part of an investigation into the Menderes District Municipality in Izmir, nine individuals—including the former Deputy Mayor Erkan Özkan—were detained on allegations of “aiding a criminal organisation”, “bribery” and “extortion”.
(09/141) The Trial of the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality…
The trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and 11 others—allegedly for using his personal vehicle as an official vehicle whilst serving as Mayor of Beylikdüzü—began on 22 September 2026 at the Criminal Court of First Instance No. 21 in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul. The indictment seeks the conviction of Ekrem İmamoğlu on the charge of “abuse of office”. Following the defence statements, the court adjourned the hearing until 23 October 2026.
(09/142) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Serpil Topal, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM), which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13, commenced on 22 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Serpil Topal on the charge of “membership of an organisation”. The court ruled that Serpil Topal’s custody should continue and adjourned the hearing until 3 December 2026.
Serpil Topal had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(09/143) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Fatma Saygılı, which was initiated at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 as part of an investigation into the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), resumed on 22 September 2026. The indictment seeks to have Fatma Saygılı sentenced for the offence of “membership of an organisation”. It has been reported that Fatma Saygılı was not brought to court and, as she could not be connected to the proceedings via SEGBIS, she was unable to present her defence. The court ruled to extend Fatma Saygılı’s detention and adjourned the hearing until 3 December 2026.
Fatma Saygılı had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(09/144) Person on Trial in Mardin…
The trial of a person named Melek Karahan, brought before the Mardin Criminal Court of First Instance No. 3 on the grounds of a social media post relating to the 15 July coup attempt, began on 22 September 2026. The indictment seeks Melek Karahan’s conviction on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information to the public”. The court ordered Melek Karahan’s release and adjourned the hearing until 6 October 2026.
Melek Karahan had been arrested on 17 July 2026.
(09/145) Investigation Launched Regarding Social Media Posts…
It has emerged that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into certain social media posts relating to the armed attack that took place on 22 September 2026 outside a school in the Turgutlu district of Manisa, in which 11 people were injured. It could not be ascertained how many posts in total were under investigation or how many people were implicated.
(09/146) News Articles Subject to Access Restrictions…
Three news articles concerning the former Governor of the Central Bank, available at https://www.evrensel.net/, https://www.birgun.net/, and https://halktv.com.tr/, on the grounds that they violated the right to privacy, pursuant to a decision dated 22 September 2026 by the Muğla Bodrum Magistrates’ Court No.2.
[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.