Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
15 May 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/088) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It was learned from news reports on May 14, 2026, that at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, relatives of inmates were prohibited from greeting or speaking with other inmates in the visiting area, and that three relatives—Ferhat Yıldız, Fînce Akman, and Fırat Kaya—were sentenced to a one-month suspension of visiting rights for failing to comply with this prohibition.
(05/089) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
As part of an investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 12 people were detained on May 15, 2026, on allegations of “tampering with a tender.”
(05/090) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
As part of an investigation into the Üsküdar District Municipality in Istanbul, seven people were detained on May 15, 2026, on allegations of “bribery.”
(05/091) Individuals Detained in Denizli…
As part of an investigation into the Merkezefendi District Municipality in Denizli, 13 people, including Deputy Mayor Emrah Karan, were detained on May 15, 2026, on allegations of “bribery” and “bid-rigging.”
(05/092) The Trial of Academic Bülent Şık…
The final hearing in the case filed against academic Bülent Şık at the Istanbul Anatolia Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Court No. 2, on the grounds of articles he wrote regarding pollen and bee products, was held on May 14, 2026. The court ordered Bülent Şık to pay 50,000 TL in material damages and 1 TL in moral damages.
(05/093) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The trial of journalist Barış Terkoğlu, initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 on the grounds of his article titled “A Friend Is a Friend’s Guardian,” continued on May 14, 2026. The indictment seeks the journalist’s conviction on charges of “insulting a public official.” The court adjourned the hearing until January 19, 2027.
(05/094) Journalist and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, Socialist Women’s Councils (SKM) member Ezgi Gürbüz, and Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) Central Executive Committee member Simay Ada Kart, which was filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14, continued on May 14, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the three individuals on charges of “membership in an organization” and “propagandizing for an organization.” The court adjourned the hearing until July 7, 2026.
Züleyha Müldür, Ezgi Gürbüz, and Simay Ada Kart were arrested on January 25, 2025. Züleyha Müldür was released on house arrest with judicial supervision during the hearing held on June 25, 2025, while Ezgi Gürbüz and Simay Ada were released under the same conditions during the hearing held on September 18, 2025; this measure was lifted during the hearing held on February 27, 2026.
(05/095) Police Officers on Trial in Bursa…
The trial at the Bursa Criminal Court of First Instance No. 18 regarding three police officers—M.T., E.K., and Ö.T.—along with Zafer Y., and four individuals—Ahmet S., Samet S., and Gökhan K.—who were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment while in custody, continued on May 14, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the accused police officers on charges of “assault,” “threats,” and “insult.” The court rejected the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ requests for a ruling of lack of jurisdiction, the transfer of the case to the Heavy Penal Court under the charges of torture and other ill-treatment, and the detention of the accused police officers, and adjourned the hearing until October 15, 2025.
[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.