Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
9 October 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/067) The Trial of Police Officers in Istanbul…
On 9 October 2026, proceedings continued at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 62 in the case brought against five police officers by lawyer Murat Çelik, on the grounds of the use of physical violence and handcuffing he had subjected during the police intervention at the protest organised by the Saturday Mothers/People in Galatasaray Square on 8 July 2023. The indictment seeks the conviction of the accused police officers on charges of “intentional assault”. The court adjourned the hearing until 18 December 2026.
(10/068) Journalists Against Whom Investigations Have Been Launched and Who Have Been Detained…
According to news reports published on 9 October 2026, it was learned that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched investigations into journalists Mustafa Balcı (editor of the Sözcü newspaper), Sabah Sevinç, İsmail Saymaz and Murat Ağırel, on the grounds of news reports and social media posts relating to the financial crisis. Whilst Şaban Sevinç and Mustafa Balcı were detained on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information”, it was reported that a decision had been taken to summon İsmail Saymaz and Murat Ağırel to give statements as suspects. Whilst Şaban Sevinç and Mustafa Balcı were arrested by the magistrates’ court to which they were referred on the same day, Murat Ağırel and İsmail Saymaz were released subject to judicial supervision, including a requirement to sign in and a ban on travelling abroad. It has been reported that, following an objection by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the judicial supervision conditions imposed on Murat Ağırel and İsmail Saymaz were converted to house arrest.
(10/069) Artist Detained…
Berna Laçin, who was detained on 7 October 2026 as part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility”, based on a social media post she made regarding the Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s move to the Justice and Development Party, was released by the magistrates’ court on 8 October 2026, to which she had been referred with a request for her detention.
(10/070) Individuals on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case brought before the Istanbul Anatolia Criminal Court of First Instance No. 12 against 36 people who were detained following a police intervention at the 11th Istanbul Trans Pride March held in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul on 22 June 2025 took place on 9 October 2026. The court acquitted the 36 individuals of the charge of “contravening the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911”.
(10/071) Television Channels and Platforms Fined by RTÜK…
According to news reports published on 8 October 2026, it emerged that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) had imposed an administrative fine on the Sözcü TV channel on the grounds that it had failed to comply with a request for a retraction regarding a news item broadcast on 13 March 2026.
(10/072) Social Media Accounts Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to press reports on 8 October 2026, it was reported that access restrictions had been imposed on a total of 39 X social media accounts, including some belonging to journalists, pursuant to Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of ‘the protection of 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.