Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
1 – 2 May 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/001) Person subjected to physical violence by police in Şırnak…
According to news reports on May 1, 2025, following a football match between Silopi Gücü and Cizre Botan teams in Şırnak, a fight broke out between players from both teams. During the police intervention, one footballer was subjected to physical violence by a police officer on duty.
The Şırnak Governor’s Office announced that an investigation had been launched into the police officer in question.
(05/002) Interventions, Restrictions, and Bans on May 1 Activities…
Police intervened using physical violence and tear gas against groups gathered in Şişli and Beşiktaş to march toward Taksim Square. It was reported that those detained were forced to lie on the ground and had their hands cuffed behind their backs. It was reported that while one person was being detained, a police officer told other officers, “Press down on his neck, don’t let go.” During the intervention, it was learned that two fingers of a person named B.A. were broken.
It was learned that a banner reading “A turbulent, chaotic state cannot be governed” was not permitted by the police at a rally held in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul.
The Proggresive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) announced that 419 people, including 10 children and 11 lawyers, were detained during the day-long intervention in Istanbul. 383 of those detained were released on the same day. It was learned that 36 people are still in custody.
It was reported that police intervened when lawyers went to the Istanbul Provincial Police Department to meet with those detained and did not allow them to enter the police station.
One person was detained in Tokat and one in Van during the May 1 celebrations.
(05/003) Person Detained in Ankara…
Gökhan Gülyurt, who was driving a party bus during a march organized by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) on April 23, was detained on May 1, 2025, on the grounds that he did not comply with the police’s order to stop and drove the vehicle toward the police. Gökhan Gülyurt was released on house arrest by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on the same day.
(05/004) Association Member Detained in Eskişehir…
On May 1, 2025, Yusuf Özdemir, a member of the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), was detained during a house raid in Eskişehir. The reason for the detention is unknown.
(05/005) Individuals Detained in Tunceli…
On May 2, 2025, four people were detained during house raids in the Pertek district of Tunceli. The names of those detained and the reason for their detention are unknown.
(05/006) Trial of Swedish Citizen Journalist…
The trial of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was charged with “insulting the President,” began on March 30, 2025, at the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance No. 79. The indictment seeks the journalist’s punishment for the crime of “insulting the President.” In the first hearing, where Joakim Medin participated via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from the Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) Closed Prison and Correctional Facility, the court announced its decision, sentencing the journalist to 11 months and 7 days in prison and postponing the announcement of the verdict. The court also ordered Joakim Medin’s release.
Joakim Medin was detained at Istanbul Airport on March 27, 2025, and was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on March 28, 2025.
The second indictment against Joakim Medin, prepared on charges of “being a member of an organization” and “making propaganda for an organization,” was accepted by the Ankara 17th Heavy Penal Court.
(05/007) Union President’s Discriminatory and Phobic Speech…
According to news reports on May 2, 2025, Ali Yalçın, the General President of Memur-Sen, used discriminatory and phobic language in his speech at the May 1 rally in Ankara. Ali Yalçın stated the following in his speech, which was reported in the media: “Some union-like groups are trying to promote LGBT propaganda to children by painting blackboards purple in schools. No one should dare to corrupt this nation’s children. We will continue to defend the family and protect future generations. The definition of family must change; the constitutional guarantee that a family consists of a man and a woman through marriage must be enshrined. Daytime TV shows, series, digital broadcasts, and social media attacks that criminalize the family, destroy privacy, and promote perversion must be exposed, and proper sanctions must be imposed on them without exception.”
[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.