Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
1 – 3 March 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/001) Armed Attack on Municipality Administrator and Political Party Executive…
Ardeşen District Governorate made a declaration on February 28, 2025 and announced that Deputy Mayor Mustafa Kuyumcu and Republican People’s Party (CHP) District Women’s Branch Chair Müjgan Seferinoğlu were wounded in an armed attack at the municipality’s social facilities in Ardeşen district of Rize and that a person named E.A. was detained for allegedly carrying out the attack.
(03/002) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 2, 2025 that, Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Youth Assembly members Neval Çaşurluk and Merve Yeşilyurt, who were arrested in Istanbul on February 28, 2025, were subjected to strip search in Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison.
(03/003) No Response to Application for Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 28, 2025 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family and legal guardian in order to visit Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
(03/004) Prisoner’s Release Postponed by Prison Administration and Observation Board…
It is learned from news coverage of March 1, 2025 that release of Gülten Akgün, a prisoner in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison, who completed her life sentence on June 19, 2024, is postponed for the second time until August 18, 2025, on the grounds of ‘not being in good behaviour’, by the decision of Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK). Gülten Akgün’s release was postponed for 8 months before.
(03/005) Members of Political Parties and Associations Arrested in Istanbul…
On February 28, 2025, 18 people including members of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), HDK, Istanbul Free Student Assembly, Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), Free Young Women (ÖGK) were detained in house raids in Istanbul. 17 people including 2 children were arrested by the Criminal Court of Peace on the same day on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. 1 person is released on judicial control conditions.
(03/006) Detained Party Executive in Izmir…
Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Izmir provincial executive Hıdır Ali Kılıç was detained on February 28, 2025 and was released on the same day by the criminal court of peace with a ban on leaving the country.
(03/007) Detained Party and Association Members in Istanbul…
ESP member Hüseyin Yeşilova and SGDF member Devrim Altepe were detained on February 28, 2025 at the entrance of Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on the grounds of SGDF apron and a poetry book found in their bags.
(03/008) Business Person Detained in Istanbul…
Cem Köksal, CEO of Zorlu Holding, sent a letter to the CEO of Vestel, a subsidiary of the same holding, in which he said, “Ramadan is not on our list of days to be celebrated corporately. The religious holidays of Sugar and Sacrifice are included. As a company, we have a stance independent of religion. As we strive to be a multinational company, we expect to have employees from all religions and nationalities. Therefore, I do not think it is right for us to celebrate such a celebration as a corporation. I have warned you about a similar issue before. Please do not repeat this in any way. I especially ask you to take this warning seriously.” Cem Köksal was detained on March 1, 2025 within the scope of the investigation initiated against him by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the allegation of ‘preventing the exercise of freedom of belief, thought and opinion’. Cem Köksal was released by the criminal court of peace on March 2, 2025 on judicial control conditions.
(03/009) Co-Mayor and Other People on Trial in Mardin…
The trial of the case against 10 people including DEM Party elected co-mayor of Dargeçit district of Mardin Asya Gezer and DEM Party Dargeçit district co-chair Abdurrahman Arslan continued on February 28, 2025 at Mardin Heavy Penal Court. The court adjourned the trial to March 26, 2025.
(03/010) Political Party Executive and Other People on Trial in Tunceli
The final trial of the case against 15 people including DEM Party Tunceli Provincial Co-Chair Esma Ataş, for taking halay during DEM Party’s primary elections on February 10 and 11, 2024, is held at Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No 1 on February 28, 2025. The court acquitted 14 people on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The court sentenced a person named Mithat Konak to 1 year and 3 months for sharing the video footage of the halayers on social media.
(03/011) Cancelled Event in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 2, 2025 that the talk to be organized by Üsküdar Municipality with the participation of Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, as a part of Ramadan events was cancelled due to reactions to Nevzat Tarhan’s past statements on the Istanbul Convention.
(03/012) Access Restricted Internet Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 28, 2025 that access to social media accounts of Jinnews news agency and Xwebûn newspaper was banned. It is not learned who made the decision and on what grounds.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 1, 2025 that access to social media accounts of 3 journalists was banned on the grounds of national security and protection of public order, and that these accounts were made invisible from Turkey by X.
[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.