Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 October 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/126) People Who Lost Their Lives as a Result of Torrential Rain in Istanbul…
As of 21 October 2026, the total number of people who lost their lives due to the torrential rain that affected Istanbul and Kocaeli on 14 October 2026 stood at 9 (7 in Istanbul and 2 in Kocaeli).
(10/127) A Person Abducted and Subjected to Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Ankara…
According to news reports published on 21 October 2026, it was learned that Basri Polat, a member of the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) and a student at Hacettepe University in Ankara, was abducted in Ankara after being forcibly taken into a vehicle by individuals who identified themselves as police officers. It was reported that whilst Basri Polat was deprived of his liberty, he was threatened with death, subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, and coerced into acting as an informant, before being released on the same day. In a statement published in the press, Basri Polat said: “A few days ago, whilst returning home from work, I was intercepted by police officers in a side street and forced into a black SUV and abducted. My eyes were blindfolded, and I was taken to a mountainous area in Mamak. For approximately three hours, I was subjected to severe beatings, psychological abuse and death threats (…) They took my fingerprints whilst physically torturing me and unlocked my phone; whilst my eyes were blindfolded, they constantly spoke ill of my friends and forced me to slander them.”
(10/128) Prisoner Whose Release Was Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
According to news reports published on 20 October 2026, it was learned that the release of Sermin Demirağ, a prisoner held at Kayseri Women’s Prison who had completed her life sentence, had been adjourned for six months by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK).
Sermin Demirdağ’s release had already been adjourned seven times since 7 March 2023.
(10/129) Intervention in Leaflet Distribution in Istanbul…
It has been reported that on 20 October 2026, private security units intervened against members of Emek Gençliği who were distributing leaflets regarding the flood disaster at the Preparatory Campus of Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, preventing the distribution of the leaflets.
(10/130) Journalist Arrested in Ankara…
On 20 October 2026, İsmail Arı, a reporter for the BirGün newspaper, was detained at the Security Branch of the Ankara Police Headquarters whilst attending to give a statement as part of an investigation launched following a complaint by the former Chair of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). was arrested on 21 October 2026 by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred, on charges of “insulting a public official in the course of their duties” and “publicly disseminating misleading information”.
(10/131) Individuals Detained in Bursa…
On 20 October 2026, as part of an Ankara-based investigation, two individuals named İlhami Şengül and Ramazan Soy were detained in Bursa on charges of “providing financial support to an illegal organisation” It was reported that both individuals were subject to a confidentiality order in the investigation and would be transferred to Ankara.
(10/132) The Trial of the New Party’s General Chairman…
The final hearing in the case brought against Özgür Özel, the General Chairman of the New Party, at the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance No 3 on the charge of insulting Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, took place on 21 October 2026. The court ordered Özgür Özel to pay 750,000 TL in compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
(10/133) The Trial of the Mayor of Bolu…
The final hearing in the case brought before the Bolu Heavy Penal Court No. 3 against 19 individuals, including the Mayor of Bolu, Tanju Özkan, four of whom were in custody, took place on 20 October 2026. The court sentenced Tanju Özkan to a total of 7 years, 3 months and 15 days’ imprisonment. The prison sentences handed down to the other 18 defendants, ranging from 1 year and 15 days to 1 year, 8 months and 15 days, were adjourned.
(10/134) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case brought against journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2, concerning a news article titled “Armenian youths in Turkey tell their stories: 109 years of mourning”, took place on 20 October 2026. The indictment sought the conviction of Tuğçe Yılmaz on the charge of “insulting the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, and the institutions and organs of the state”. The court ruled that the case should be dismissed as the four-month limitation period under Article 26/1 of the Press Law had expired.
(10/135) The Trial of Journalists in Ankara…
The trial of journalists Gözde Şeker and İbrahim Kahveci, brought before the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance No. 52 following a complaint by the Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) regarding remarks they made on a television programme, commenced on 20 October 2026. The indictment seeks the journalists’ conviction on charges of “insult” and “defamation”. The court adjourned the hearing until 4 November 2026.
(10/136) The Trial of a Journalist in Diyarbakır…
The trial of journalist Bircan Değirmenci, initiated at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4 on the grounds of a social media post she made, continued on 20 October 2026. The indictment seeks the journalist’s conviction on the charge of “repeatedly propagating for an organisation”. The court adjourned the hearing until 26 January 2027.
(10/137) Trial in Istanbul Involving a Journalist and Others…
The trial, which was brought before the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 9 against 20 individuals – including journalist Fatoş Erdoğan – over social media posts relating to a protest against the appointment of a trustee to the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Provincial Headquarters, resumed on 21 October 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 20 individuals on charges of “openly inciting others to commit a crime”. The court adjourned the hearing until 23 December 2026.
(10/138) Political Party Member on Trial in Antalya…
The trial of Ali Çiftçi, a member of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was brought before the Antalya 2nd Heavy Penal Court, commenced on 20 October 2026. The indictment seeks the prosecution of Ali Çiftçi on the charge of “membership of an illegal organisation” The court ordered Ali Çiftçi’s release and adjourned the hearing until 13 January 2027.
Ali Çiftçi had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/139) Social Media Account Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to news reports on 21 October 2026, it was learned that access to the X social media account belonging to Cafer Mahiroğlu, the owner of the Halk TV channel—which had been placed under administration as part of an Istanbul-based investigation—had been blocked.
According to news reports on 21 October 2026, it was learned that access to the X social media account belonging to the Yeni Yaşam newspaper had been blocked.
[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.