Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
24 – 25 September 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/145) Soldier Killed in Syria…
The Ministry of National Defence (MSB) announced that one soldier (Coşkun Sevim), who was on duty in the Olive Branch Operation zone in Syria, died on 23 September 2026 for health reasons.
(09/146) The Hande Buse Şeker Case…
Following the Supreme Court’s quashing of the life sentence handed down to police officer Volkan Hicret on charges of sexually assaulting and killing the trans woman Hande Buse Şeker in Izmir on 9 January 2019, the retrial of the case continued on 24 September 2026 at the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Izmir Regional Court of Appeal. The court adjourned the hearing until 21 October 2026.
(09/147) Racist Attack in Istanbul…
According to press reports on 25 September 2026, it was learned that street musician Muhammet Daşdemir and another person accompanying him were subjected to a racist attack by an unidentified individual on the seafront in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, on the grounds that they were singing in Kurdish.
(09/148) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to press reports on 23 September 2026, it was learned that a prisoner named Şafak Kılgöz, who was being held at Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) No. 2 Prison, was transferred to Antalya High-Security Prison against his will.
According to press reports on 24 September 2026, it was learned that Berkay Ustabaş, a member of the Advisory Board of the Revolutionary Youth Associations (DGD), who was arrested prior to the NATO Summit and was being held at Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) No. 2 Prison, had been sentenced to a six-month deprivation of visiting rights as part of a disciplinary investigation opened against him.
Sezin Uçar, Deputy Co-Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), stated in her defence during the hearing on 24 September 2026 in the case brought against her at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26 that 60 prisoners were being held in a cell at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison with a capacity of 35.
(09/149) Police Intervention at a Protest in Izmir…
In protest against the Ministry of the Interior’s “University Security Measures” and the “My Family is Safe” operations, 27 people were detained during a police intervention targeting a stall set up by students on the Ege University campus in İzmir on 22 September 2026. One of them (Ulaş Yıldırım) was arrested on 23 September 2026 by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred, on the charge of “resisting the police”. The remaining 26 were released after giving statements at the police station.
(09/150) Journalists Detained in Trabzon…
Hatice Aksoy, owner of Trabzon 360 Haber, and Muhsin Aksoy, the publication’s editor-in-chief, were detained on 23 September 2026 on the grounds that they had reported on a statement made by Suna Kepolu Ataman, a Member of Parliament for Diyarbakır from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), regarding Abdullah Öcalan. The two journalists were released following their questioning by the police.
(09/151) Person Detained in Istanbul…
Mithat Sinan Bolak, the son of businessman Ümit Boyner and a former Director of Planning and Organisation at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Culture Inc., was detained on 24 September 2026 at Istanbul Airport upon his arrival from abroad. The detention was on the grounds of an arrest warrant issued against him for failing to give evidence in a case brought against the İBB.
(09/152) The KCK Press Trial…
Proceedings continued on 24 September 2026 in the case known as the ‘KCK Press Trial’, brought against 46 journalists at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 3. The court adjourned the hearing until 4 February 2027.
(09/152) Trial of a Party Leader in Istanbul…
The trial of Sezin Uçar, Deputy Co-Chair of the ESP, which was started at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26, began on 24 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Sezin Uçar on the charge of “being a member of an illegal organisation” The court ruled to release Sezin Uçar subject to a travel ban as a condition of her release and adjourned the hearing until 19 January 2027.
Sezin Uçar had been arrested on 13 April 2026.
(09/153) Trial of a Party Member in Istanbul…
The trial of ESP member Kerem Bükre, filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28, continued on 24 September 2026. The indictment seeks conviction of Kerem Bükre on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”. The court ordered Kerem Bükre’s release and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Kerem Bükre had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(09/154) Individuals on Trial in Ankara…
The trial concerning LGBT+ activist Duru, who was arrested ahead of the NATO Summit, and another individual, which began at the Ankara Heavy Penal Court on 24 September 2026, The indictment seeks the conviction of the two individuals on charges of ‘membership of an organisation’. The court ordered Duru’s release on condition that she sign in regularly as part of her judicial supervision and adjourned the hearing until 7 January 2027.
(09/155) Indictment Prepared Against the Former Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and Others…
The indictment prepared by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 19 individuals, including the former Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Tunç Soyer, was accepted by the İzmir Heavy Penal Court No. 6 on 23 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Tunç Soyer on the charge of “aiding and abetting embezzlement”. The first hearing in the case is scheduled for 18 November 2026.
(09/156) Journalists Against Whom Investigations Have Been Launched…
According to news reports published on 24 September 2026, it has been learnt that an investigation has been launched against Ahmet Güneş, Editor-in-Chief of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, and Mehmet Ali Çelebi, its Managing Editor, on the grounds of “publicly disseminating misleading information”, citing the article titled “Is the job of those in uniform murder?” published in the newspaper.
(09/157) Trade Union Leader and Lawyer Under Investigation…
According to reports in the press on 24 September 2026, it has been learned that an investigation has been launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Başaran Aksu, an organising specialist at the Independent Miners’ Union (Bağımsız Maden-İş), on the charge of “publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility”, on the grounds that he chanted slogans whilst appearing before a magistrate’s court to which he had been referred with a request for his arrest. It was also reported that an investigation had been launched against lawyer Mürsel Ünder on the same grounds.
(09/158) Social Media Accounts and News Items Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been learned that, following a statement made by AKP Diyarbakır MP Suna Kepolu Ataman regarding Abdullah Öcalan, the Trabzon 1st Magistrates’ Court issued a ruling on 21 September 2026 blocking access to five social media posts made by journalists Hatice Aksoy and Muhsin Aksoy.
According to news reports published on 24 September 2026, it has been reported that an access ban was imposed on the X social media account belonging to Yaman Akdeniz, one of the founders of the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order, and that the account has been made inaccessible from within Turkey.
According to news reports published on 24 September 2026, it has been learned that an access block was imposed on the X social media account belonging to Başaran Aksu, an organising specialist at the Independent Miners’ Trade Union, under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
It has been reported that the X social media account belonging to the Fırat News Agency has been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, on the grounds of safeguarding national security and public order.
It has been reported that the X social media account belonging to Haluk Hepkon, founder of Kırmızı Kedi Publishing House, has been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of safeguarding national security and public order.
According to news reports published on 24 September 2026, it has been learned that access to three news articles concerning developments relating to investment funds, available on the websites https://www.evrensel.net/, https://www.sozcu.com.tr/, https://www.gazetepencere.com/, have had access blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of safeguarding 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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[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.