Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 – 16 October 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/085) Migrant/Refugee Child Who Lost Their Life in Edirne…
It has been reported that on 15 October 2026, in Edirne, a boat carrying refugees attempting to cross the River Meric into Greece capsized, resulting in the death of one child and the disappearance of two others.
(10/086) People Who Lost Their Lives as a Result of Torrential Rain in Istanbul…
It was reported that on 15 October 2026, three people, including one child, lost their lives and five people were reported missing due to torrential rain across Istanbul. Of those who died, one died from an electric shock and two from drowning. Additionally, one person was reported missing in Kocaeli.
(10/087) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of National Defence (MSB) announced on 14 October 2026 that one soldier (Mustafa Aslan) had lost his life as a result of an accidental discharge of a weapon in the Pençe Kilit operation area within the borders of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG).
(10/088) Prisoner Whose Release Was Adjourned by Decision of the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
According to news reports on 13 October 2026, it was learned that the release of a prisoner named Orhan Yakışır, who was being held at Ankara Sincan No. 1 F-Type Prison and had completed his prison sentence, had been adjourned for 11 months by the Prison Administration and Supervision Board (CİGK). Orhan Yakışır’s release had previously been adjourned twice, each time for a period of eight months.
According to news reports published on 13 October 2026, it was learned that the release of Zeliha Ustabaş, an inmate held at Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison who had completed her prison sentence on 18 July 2024, had been adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) for a period of nine months. Zeliha Ustabaş’s release had previously been adjourned four times.
(10/089) Mayor Detained in Ardahan…
On 14 October 2026, as part of an investigation into the municipality of Damal in Ardahan, 10 people – including Mayor Kemal Çamlıyurt – were detained following operations carried out in six provinces. They were remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court on charges of “bribery”.
(10/090) Journalist Detained…
Journalist Murat Ağırel, who was subject to a house arrest order on charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information to the public” on the grounds of his reports and social media posts regarding the funding crisis, was detained from his home on 16 October 2026 as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(10/091) Journalist Detained in Istanbul…
Bahadır Özgür, a presenter on Halk TV, was taken into custody in Istanbul on 15 October 2026 on the grounds that his social media posts regarding the fund crisis had “breached the confidentiality of the investigation”. Bahadır Özgür was released by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred on 16 October 2026, subject to a travel ban as a condition of his release.
(10/092) Human Rights Defender Detained…
Bahadır Altan, a former association executive of the İzmir branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD), was detained on 15 October 2026 at the İzmir Konak District Police Headquarters whilst attending to give a statement as part of an investigation opened against him on the grounds of a social media post he made regarding the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV; he was detained on the charge of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility”. Bahadır Altan was released on 16 October 2026 by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred, subject to the conditions of judicial supervision, including a travel ban and an obligation to sign in regularly.
(10/093) Person Detained in Istanbul…
A man named Soydan Akay, who was released on 13 May 2025 after serving 32 years in prison, was detained at Istanbul Airport on 15 October 2026 on the charge of “being a member of an organisation” and was released the same day following questioning.
(10/094) Individuals on Trial in Ankara…
On 15 October 2025, proceedings continued in the case brought before the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance No. 33 against 23 individuals on the grounds that they had participated in protests calling for the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 23 individuals on charges of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911”. The court adjourned the hearing until 18 February 2027.
(10/095) Halk TV Investigation…
On 14 October 2026, as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Cafer Mahiroğlu, Chairman of the Halk TV Board of Directors, it emerged that 11 individuals had been detained on charges of “bribery”, “tender fraud”, “laundering of proceeds of crime”, and it was reported that the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as a receiver for the Halk TV television channel.
(10/096) Investigation Opened Against the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality…
According to news reports published on 15 October 2026, it was learned that the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul had launched an investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of “insulting a public official”, following remarks he made about the Minister of Justice during his defence in the trial in which he is a defendant.
(10/097) Investigation Launched Against a Journalist…
According to press reports dated 13 October 2026, it was learned that the Istanbul Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched an investigation into Sözcü TV presenter Serap Belovacıklı on the grounds of “publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility” based on her social media posts, and that the journalist had been summoned to the courthouse to give a statement.
(10/098) Publishing House Editor on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case brought against Hasan Polat, editor of Ceylan Yayınları, at the Istanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court took place on 13 October 2026. The court sentenced Hasan Polat to 6 years and 3 months’ imprisonment on the charge of “being a member of an organisation” and ruled that he should remain in custody.
Hasan Polat had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/099) Association Members and Executives on Trial in Izmir…
Proceedings continued on 14 October 2026 in the case brought before the Izmir Criminal Court of First Instance No. 47 against 11 former members of the management and supervisory boards of the Young LGBTI+ Association, on the charge of “violating the Associations Act”. The court ruled that the appeal process regarding the dissolution order issued by the court of first instance against the Young LGBTI+ Association should be awaited, and that the address of one of the defendants, who is currently abroad, should be ascertained and their statement taken via letter of request; it adjourned the hearing until 21 April 2027.
(10/100) The Trial of the Magazine’s Editors…
The trial of six editors and cartoonists of Leman Magazine, initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 on the grounds of a cartoon published in the magazine, resumed on 13 October 2026.
The indictment seeks the conviction of the magazine’s responsible editors-in-chief, Zafer Aknar and Aslan Özdemir; the managing director, Ali Yavuz; and the graphic designer, Cebrail Okçu, as well as the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Mehmet Tuncay Akgün, on the charge of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and media” , whilst the cartoonist, Doğan Pehlevan, is charged with “publicly inciting the public to hatred and hostility through the press and publications on multiple occasions”.
The court adjourned the hearing until 2 February 2027.
Doğan Pehlevan, Zafer Aknar, Cebrail Okçu and Ali Yavuz were arrested on 4 July 2025, whilst Aslan Özdemir was arrested on 12 July 2025. Zafer Aknar, Cebrail Okçu, Ali Yavuz and Aslan Özdemir were released on 26 September 2025, whilst Doğan Pehlivan was released on 14 November 2025. An arrest warrant remains in force for Mehmet Tuncay Akgün.
(10/101) The Trial of a Party Member in Istanbul…
The trial of Can Tekin, a member of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28, resumed on 13 October 2026. The indictment seeks Can Tekin’s conviction on the charge of ‘being a member of an organisation’. The court ordered Can Tekin’s release and adjourned the hearing until 19 January 2027.
Can Tekin had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/102) Political Party Leader Facing Investigation…
According to news reports published on 14 October 2026, it emerged that an investigation had been launched against Şükran Doğan, a member of the Central Disciplinary Committee (MDK) of the Labour Party (EMEP), on the grounds of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” due to social media posts relating to the NATO Summit held in Ankara, and that Şükran Doğan had given a statement as part of the investigation.
(10/103) Individuals on Trial in Ankara…
The final hearing in the case brought before the Ankara 58th Criminal Court of First Instance against nine teachers employed in the private sector, on the grounds of a protest held in Ankara on 30 August 2022, took place on 14 October 2026. The court sentenced the nine individuals to five months’ imprisonment on charges of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911”.
(10/104) Mayor Removed from Office…
Kemal Çamlıyurt, the Mayor of Damal district in Ardahan, who had been arrested as part of an investigation against him, was removed from office by the Ministry of the Interior on 15 October 2026.
(10/105) Seized Book and Publisher Facing Legal Action…
According to news reports on 15 October 2026, it was learned that a seizure order had been issued for the book *The Mahir Çayan Book: Collected Writings and Essays on the Subject*, published by Dipnot Yayınları, and that an investigation had been launched against the publishing house’s editor-in-chief, Emir Ali Türkmen, on the grounds of ‘spreading organisational propaganda’.
(10/106) Police Raid on a TV Channel…
It was reported that on 14 October 2026, the Halk TV channel—which had had an administrator appointed—was raided by the police; staff were prevented from entering the building and normal broadcasting was suspended.
(10/107) Social Media Account Subject to an Access Block…
According to news reports published on 10 October, 2026, it was learned that nine news articles concerning the Minister of Justice, published on the websites https://12punto.com.tr/, https://ilketv.com.tr/, https://medyascope.tv/, https://www.birgun.net/, https://www.gazetepencere.com/, https://bianet.org/, https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/, https://10haber.net/, had been blocked by a decision of the Istanbul Bakırköy 1st Magistrates’ Court dated 10 October 2026.
According to news reports published on 14 October 2026, it was leaned that access to the X accounts belonging to the Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP) and the Mesopotamia News Agency (MA), as well as the Instagram account belonging to journalist Ahmet Nesin, has been blocked in accordance with Article 8/A of Law No. 5651.
According to press reports on 14 October 2026, it was learned that access restrictions had been imposed on the Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok and Telegram accounts of the Halk TV channel – which had been placed under receivership and had its broadcasts suspended – under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651.
It has been reported in the press on 15 October 2026 that the X social media account belonging to journalist Bahadır Özgür has been blocked in accordance with Article 8/A of Law No. 5651.
[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.