Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 – 16 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/108) Prisoner’s Release Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 15, 2026 that, the release of Yılmaz Ak, a prisoner in Erzincan High Security Prison, who completed the execution of his life sentence on July 31, 2025, was adjourned by Prison Administration and Monitoring Board (CİGK) for the second time for 6 months on January 28, 2026, on the grounds of “lack of remorse”.
(02/109) Detained People in Istanbul for Participating in a Protest…
After the press declaration about the President’s visit to Boğaziçi University campus in Istanbul on February 13, 2026, 2 people (Ayşe Cebecioğlu from Federation of Socialist Youth Associations and Sude Şener from Labour Youth) were detained and released by the criminal court of peace on judicial control conditions on February 14, 2024.
(02/110) Police Intervention to Protests in Istanbul and Van…
On February 15, 2026, the police detained 16 people, including 4 children, were detained in Fatih district of Istanbul after a protest in connection with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey. Detained people and were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. The names of the detainees cold not be learned.
The police intervened the protest for the same reason in Van on February 15, 2026 and detained 1 person. The name of the detainee could not be learned.
(02/111) Police Intervention to a Journalist in Hakkari…
On February 15, 2026, it is learned that journalist Hevidar Önver, who was following the protest in Yüksekova district of Hakkari about PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s being brought to Turkey, was subjected to physical violence of the police.
(02/112) Detained Trade Union Executive…
İnşaat-İş Organizing Officer Deniz Gider was detained on February 13, 2026 on the grounds that he did not testify in connection with an investigation against him. Deniz Gider was released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office on the same day.
(02/113) Detained People in Izmir…
7 people who were detained on February 5, 2026 through an investigation against Buca Municipality in Izmir and released by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on judicial control conditions, were detained again and arrested on February 12, 2026 upon objection of the prosecutor’s office. Accordingly, 14 people were arrested through this investigation and 12 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(02/114) Detained People in Izmir…
On February 15, 2026, 21 people are detained through an investigation against Izmir Metropolitan Municipality’s subsidiary İZBETON A.Ş. in Izmir.
(02/115) Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor on Trial…
The trial of the case against Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, on the grounds of forgery of his university diploma, continued on February 16, 2026 at Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No 59.
The indictment demands sentence for Ekrem İmamoğlu on the charge of ‘forgery of official documents in a chain’.
The court adjourned the trial to July 6, 2026.
(02/116) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalists Barış Pehlivan, Kürşad Oğuz, Suat Toktaş, Seda Selek and Serhan Asker, on the grounds of sharing the phone calls of the expert mentioned in the press statement made by IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, continued on February 13, 2026 at Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No 54.
The indictment demands sentence for journalists on the charge of ‘interception and recording of conversations between individuals’.
The court adjourned the hearing to June 12, 2026.
Barış Pehlivan, Kürşad Oğuz, Seda Selek, Suat Toktaş and Serhan Asker were detained on January 29, 2025; 4 of the journalists were released on the same day on judicial control conditions; Suat Toktaş was arrested on January 30, 2025 and released on March 5, 2025.
(02/117) Investigation Against Journalist…
It is learned that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalist İsmail Arı, upon the complaint of Türk Telekom CEO, for a news report he made and that journalist gave his official statement on February 16, 2026.
(02/118) Person on Trial in Ankara…
The trial of the case against Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu, former YARSAV President and Secularism Assembly Spokesperson, on the grounds of a social media post he made, continued on February 13, 2026 at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 6. The indictment demands sentence for Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu on the charges of ‘insult’ and ‘slander’. The court adjourned the hearing without giving Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu and his lawyers the floor for their defense.
(02/119) Lawyer on Trial in Adana…
The first trial of the case against lawyer Şiar Rişvanoğlu started on February 16, 2026 at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the hearing to April 10, 2026.
(02/120) Football Team Referred to PFDK…
On February 13, 2026 it is learned from the news coverage of February 13, 2026 that Batman Petrolspor was referred to Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) on the grounds of chanting slogans about attacks against Kurds in Syria during the match between Batman Petrolspor and Elazığspor on January 8, 2026 and was penalized with 1 match without spectators and a fine of 24.000 Turkish Liras.
(02/121) Banned Concert in Istanbul…
It is learned that the concert to be given by Irish post-rock band God Is An Astronaut on February 13, 2026 at Istanbul Zorlu Performance Arts Center has been canceled. It was not learned by whom and on what grounds the annulment decision was taken.
(02/122) Blocked Internet Contents…
On February 14, 2026, it is learned from the news coverage of February 14, 2026 that 3 separate news reports about a former minister on https://www.birgun.net/, https://halktv.com.tr/, https://www.babaocagi.com.tr/ websites were banned from access on the grounds of protection of national security and public order under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651.
It is learned that 9 platforms (Bigo, MICO, SUGO, Poppo, MIGO, SoulChill, LiveMe, Cheero and LopMe) where users can broadcast live broadcasts are banned to access by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) on February 14, 2026.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 14, 2026 that access to X social media account of Velvele news website was banned by BTK’s decision and the account was made invisible from Turkey.
[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.