Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
13 May 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/090) Person subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in Van…
According to news reports published on May 12, 2025, it was learned that a person named D.Y. was arrested and transferred to the Van Courthouse on May 7, 2025, where he was subjected to physical violence by police officers in a room. The report also states that a relative of D.Y. was also subjected to physical violence by the police.
D.Y.’s lawyer stated the following in a press release: “I was informed that my client’s statement was about to begin and that he was waiting in the prosecutor’s office. Shortly after, a relative of my client entered the room. The relative embraced my client and began to comfort him. Upon this, the police officer on duty engaged in a verbal altercation with the relative. The police officer then began to beat my client’s relative. After the argument, they took my client’s relative into a room, handcuffed him, and beat him for hours. At that moment, another police officer began to beat my client as well.”
(05/091) No Response to Request for Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan…
It has been learned that the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to the application made by lawyers on May 13, 2025, to meet with their clients, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş, who are being held in Imralı Prison.
(05/092) Investigation Launched Against Journalist…
According to news reports on May 12, 2025, an investigation was launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Yılmaz Özdil on the grounds of a social media post he made.
(04/093) Party and Association Members and Leaders on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of eight individuals, including Adnan Özcan, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), and Erol Tunç, the co-chair of the Ezilenlerin Sosyalist Partisi (ESP) in Sultangazi, continued on May 12, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13. The indictment seeks the conviction of the eight individuals on charges of “membership in an organization.” Following the defenses, the court decided to release two individuals (Ahmet Bilal Bay and Berkan Balcı) and to continue the detention of six others, and postponed the hearing to September 10, 2025.
The eight individuals were arrested on January 24, 2025.
(05/094) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Pınar Aydınlar, who is being prosecuted as part of an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), began on May 13, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13. The indictment seeks the punishment of Pınar Aydınlar on charges of “being a member of an organization” and “making propaganda for an organization.” Following the defense statements, the court decided to release Pınar Aydınlar and postponed the hearing to September 11, 2025.
Pınar Aydınlar was detained on February 18, 2025, and arrested on February 21, 2025.
(05/095) Individuals Against Whom Indictments Have Been Prepared…
It has been learned that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has prepared an indictment against three detained individuals, including Esila Ayık, a sick prisoner, for carrying banners reading “Dictator Erdoğan” during protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The indictment seeks the punishment of the three individuals for insulting the President.
The three individuals were detained on April 8, 2025, and arrested on the same day.
(05/096) Yusuf Akın Case…
On December 20, 2011, during a military operation in the Nusaybin district of Mardin, civilians Yusuf Akın lost his life and Mehmet Eren was injured. Soldiers K.E.O., S.T., B.Y., Y.E.K., and D.G. were charged with the crime of insulting the President in the Mardin Heavy Penal Court No. 1. The trial resumed on May 13, 2025. The prosecutor, presenting his final opinion on the merits of the case, requested that the court rule that no separate sentences be imposed on the defendants. The court adjourned the hearing until July 10, 2025.
The court had previously acquitted the five soldiers. Following an appeal, the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled that Yusuf Akın’s right to life had been violated and referred the case back to the Mardin 1st Heavy Penal Court for retrial.
(05/097) MPs Against Whom Indictments Have Been Prepared…
According to news reports on May 13, 2025, indictments prepared against three members of parliament with the request to lift their immunity were sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
Members of parliament against whom indictments were prepared:
- Utku Çakırözer, Eskişehir MP from the Republican People’s Party (CHP)
- Cemal Enginyurt, Istanbul MP from the CHP
- Erkan Baş, General Chairman of the Turkey Workers’ Party (TİP) and Istanbul MP.
(05/098) Internet Content Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been reported that access to one website (http://boykotyap.org/) that published the boycott list announced by the CHP has been blocked by the Istanbul Küçükçekmece Criminal Court of Peace No. 3 on May 12, 2025.
(05/099) Individuals Arrested in an Investigation Based in Istanbul…
On May 13, 2025, 13 individuals were detained in operations conducted in 10 provinces (Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Çorum, Kayseri, Izmir, Mersin, Muğla, and Van) as part of an investigation centered in Istanbul, on charges of “providing financial support to an organization.”
[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.