Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
15 – 16 April 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/102) Armed Attack on a School in Urfa…
Sixteen people were injured in an armed attack reportedly carried out by a former student named Ö.K. at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Siverek district of Urfa. It was reported that Ö.K. committed suicide after carrying out the attack.
(04/103) Armed Attack on a School in Maraş…
On April 15, 2025, a shooting reportedly carried out by a student named İ.A.M. at Ayser Çalık Middle School in Maraş resulted in the deaths of 9 people—8 children and 1 teacher—and left 20 others injured. It was learned that İ.A.M., who carried out the attack, committed suicide afterward.
(04/104) Individuals Targeted in an Attack at Ege University…
It is understood from news reports on April 14, 2026, that three people were injured in an attack carried out by a nationalist group against members of the Student Union who were distributing leaflets at Ege University in İzmir. It was reported that those waiting outside the hospital where the injured were taken were also subjected to an attack by the same ultranationalist group, resulting in 19 injuries. Additionally, news reports alleged that private security guards employed at Ege University turned a blind eye to individuals carrying sharp and piercing weapons within the ultranationalist group as they entered the campus.
(04/105) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
AccIt is learnt from news reports published on April 13, 2026, that Ahmet Bilal Bay, an inmate held at Istanbul Silivri No. 6 L-Type Prison, was transferred to Kocaeli Kandıra No. 2 F-Type Prison, inmates named Özgür Aras and Rıza Çimen were transferred to Ankara Sincan No. 1 F-Type Prison, and inmate Hakkı Demiral was transferred to Ankara Sincan No. 1 F-Type Prison against their will.
(04/106) Protest Blocked by Police in Istanbul….
A march planned by education unions on April 16, 2026, to the Provincial Directorate of National Education in Istanbul’s Fatih district regarding the armed attacks at schools in Urfa and Maraş was blocked by the police.
(04/107) Interventions and Bans Targeting May 1 Events…
On April 15, 2026, in Kocaeli, three members of Emek Gençliği who were hanging May Day posters were detained by police without formal arrest procedures and held in the trunk of a police vehicle; it was reported that their phones were confiscated during this time.
(04/108) Individuals Subjected to Police Intervention in İzmir…
It is learnt from news reports on April 14, 2026, that following an attack organized by a nationalist group at Ege University in İzmir, in which three people were injured and taken to a hospital, 19 people waiting outside the hospital were also injured as a result of the attack by the aforementioned nationalist group, after which the police intervened against those waiting outside the hospital using tear gas and physical violence. It could not be determined whether anyone was detained as a result of the intervention.
(04/109) Journalist Detained…
Sabah Newspaper reporter Lütfü Yağlı was detained in Siverek on April 16, 2026, on the grounds of a news report he had prepared regarding the armed attack that occurred at Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Siverek district of Urfa.
(04/110) Political Party Leader Detained in Istanbul…
Sezin Uçar, Deputy Co-Chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and a lawyer, who was detained at Istanbul Airport on April 13, 2026, was arrested on April 15, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which she was referred, on the charge of “being a member of an organization.”
(04/111) Relatives of Inmates Detained in Antalya…
Following the transfer of three prisoners—Tahsin Sağaltıcı, Gürkan Türkoğlu, and Hüseyin Özen—who were on a hunger strike at the Antalya Döşemealtı Type S Closed Prison, to Antalya City Hospital, police intervened against the prisoners’ relatives waiting outside the hospital on April 15, 2026, and detained four people (Hilal Sağaltıcı, Lütfiye Türkoğlu, İsmail Özen, and Ferdi Sarıkaya). While three were released the same day, it was learned that Ferdi Sarıkaya remains in custody.
(04/112) Individuals Detained in Mersin…
According to news reports on April 15, 2026, it was learned that out of the 33 people detained on April 10, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Mersin Yenişehir Municipality, two were released after giving statements at the police station, while 31 others—including Deputy Mayor Ümit Civan—were referred to the magistrate’s court on April 15, 2026. The court ordered the detention of 12 individuals and released 19 others under judicial supervision.
(04/113) The Trial in Istanbul Involving Mayors and Party Officials…
The trial, initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 59 regarding allegations of “voting fraud” at the Istanbul provincial congress of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), continued on April 15, 2026. The case involves 10 individuals, including Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, and CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.
The court adjourned the hearing until December 16, 2026.
(04/114) The Trial of a Journalist in Tunceli…
The trial of journalist Cihan Berk, which was initiated at the Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No. 1, began on April 15, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court ruled to continue Cihan Berk’s detention and adjourned the hearing to June 3, 2026.
Cihan Berk had been arrested on December 19, 2025.
(04/115) The Trial of Journalists and Others in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 against six individuals, including journalist Ender İmrek, as part of an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), was held on April 15, 2026. The court acquitted the six individuals of the charge of “being a member of an organization.”
(04/116) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The trial of journalist Timur Soykan, which was initiated at the Istanbul 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance on the grounds of social media posts, began on April 16, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “publicly inciting others to commit a crime.” The court adjourned the hearing until June 16, 2026.
(04/117) Trial of a Journalist and Others in Istanbul…
Following the police intervention during a protest organized in response to the decision issued at the April 26, 2022, sentencing hearing of the Gezi case, proceedings continued on April 16, 2026, in the case filed at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 44 against 51 individuals—including journalist Umut Taştan—who were detained during the intervention. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 51 individuals on charges of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations (No. 2911)” and “resisting the performance of duty.” The court adjourned the hearing until October 15, 2026.
(04/118) Person on Trial in Ankara…
The trial of Dr. Ayşe Uğurlu, a member of the Executive Board of the Human Rights Branch of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), which was initiated on the basis of a statement she made, began on April 15, 2026, at the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance No. 80. The court announced its decision at the first hearing and acquitted Ayşe Uğurlu of the charge of “insulting the President.”
(04/119) Indictment Prepared Against a Political Party Leader…
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Canan Kaftancıoğlu, former Istanbul Provincial Chair of the CHP, was accepted by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 53 on April 16, 2026, on the grounds of a social media post. The indictment seeks to punish Canan Kaftancıoğlu for the crime of “insulting the President.” The first hearing of the case will take place on May 21, 2026.
(04/120) Indictment Prepared Against an Environmental Activist…
An indictment prepared by the Muğla Milas Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against environmental activist Esra Işık, on the grounds of protests against the expropriation of agricultural lands around the Akbelen Forest, was accepted by the Milas Criminal Court of First Instance No. 3 on April 14, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish Esra Işık for the crime of “resisting the performance of duty.” The first hearing of the case will take place on April 27, 2026.
(01/121) The Trial of an LGBT+ Activist in Istanbul…
The trial of LGBT+ activist İris Mozalar, who was detained during the police intervention at the March 8 Feminist Night March in 2025, continued on April 15, 2026, at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 76, where she faces charges of “insulting the President.” The court adjourned the hearing until June 15, 2026.
(04/122) Social Media Accounts Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to news reports on April 15, 2026, it was learned that a block was imposed on journalist Erk Acarer’s X social media account under Article 8 of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order, and that the account was made invisible from Turkey.
According to news reports published on April 15, 2026, regarding the armed attack on a school in the Siverek district of Urfa, https://www.ntv.com.tr/, https://www.urfanatik.com/, and https://www.yenisafak.com/, were blocked under Article 8 of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
[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.