Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 – 17 June 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/097) Prisoner Who Lost His Life in Prison…
According to news reports published on June 15, 2026, it was learned that a sick prisoner named Mehmet Çıtlak, who was being held at the Antep Type E Prison, had lost his life.
(06/098) Labor Killings.
In a statement issued by the Council for Occupational Health and Safety (İSİG), it was noted that in May 2026, at least 212 workers lost their lives while on the job, including 13 women, 16 refugees/migrants, and 7 children.
(06/099) The Mazlum Turan Case…
According to news reports published on June 17, 2026, police officer Süleyman Esenboğa, who was implicated in the death of a child named Mazlum Turan (16, e), the Supreme Court’s Criminal Chamber No. 1 has ruled on the appeal regarding the overturning of the 10-year prison sentence—imposed on police officer Süleyman Esenboğa for the crime of “murder resulting from intentional wounding with a firearm”—by the Diyarbakır Region Court of Appeals, Criminal Chamber No. 1.
On August 29, 2015, in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin, police opened fire on a vehicle on the grounds that the driver had failed to comply with a stop order, resulting in the death of the driver, Mazlum Turan. The Criminal Chamber No. 1 of the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeal, which classified the death as an “unavoidable error,” ruled that there were no grounds for imposing a sentence on the police officer. Following an appeal, it was reported that the Criminal Chamber No. 1 of the Court of Appeals overturned the decision on the grounds that “an error was made in the assessment of the evidence.”
(06/100) Intervention at a Protest in Trabzon…
It was reported that Temel Kara, a protester who objected to a speech by Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç at the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Provincial Consultative Assembly meeting held in Trabzon on June 16, 2026, was forcibly removed from the hall by security police using physical force.
(06/101) Human Rights Defender Detained in Istanbul…
Human rights defender Mehmet Acettin, who was detained on February 3, 2026, and released under house arrest, was detained again on June 16, 2026, as part of an investigation into the journal “Marxist Theory.” It was also reported that journalist Nadiye Gürbüz, who is being held at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, gave a statement as part of the same investigation.
(06/102) Mayor and Others Detained in Istanbul…
Of the 18 people detained on June 12, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Silivri District Municipality in Istanbul, 10—including Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu—were referred to a magistrate’s court on June 16, 2026, and charged with “forming, leading, or joining an organization for the purpose of committing a crime,” “bribery,” “extortion,” “abuse of influence,” “abuse of office,” “bid-rigging,” “fraud in the performance of a contract,” and “money laundering of proceeds from crime.” Eight others were released under judicial supervision.
(06/103) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On June 16, 2026, 27 people were detained as part of an investigation targeting the Beylikdüzü District Municipality in Istanbul.
(06/104) Individuals Detained in Antalya…
On June 16, 2026, 10 people were detained as part of an investigation into the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality on charges of “bid-rigging,” “bribery,” “money laundering,” and “obstruction of contract performance.”
(06/105) Individuals Detained in Izmir…
On June 17, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Seferihisar District Municipality in Izmir, 6 people—including Deputy Mayor İ.G.P.—were detained.
(06/106) Person Detained in Istanbul…
It was leaned from news reports on June 16, 2026, that a person named Ş.B., who was detained in Istanbul on the allegation of “insulting the President” during a street interview, was released by the magistrate’s court under house arrest.
(06/107) Association Members Detained as Part of Investigations Centered in Eskişehir and Zonguldak…
10 of the 14 members of the Revolutionary Youth Associations (DGD), the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), and the Revolutionary Student Union who were detained on June 12, 2026, as part of two investigations centered in Eskişehir and Zonguldak, operations were conducted in 8 provinces (Balıkesir, Eskişehir, Karabük, Kastamonu, Mardin, Muğla, Van, and Zonguldak), were arrested on June 16, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred. Four individuals were released.
(06/108) The Trial of a Journalist in Diyarbakır…
The trial of Abdurrahman Gök, editor of the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), which was initiated at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5, continued on June 16, 2026. The indictment seeks to convict Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “being a member of an organization” and “spreading organization propaganda.” The court adjourned the hearing until September 22, 2026.
Abdurrahman Gök was detained in Diyarbakır on April 25, 2023, and was arrested on April 27, 2023. The journalist had been released during a hearing on December 5, 2023, in the case filed against him at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5.
(06/109) Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The trial of journalist Timur Soykan, initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 32 on the grounds of his social media posts, continued on June 16, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crimes of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “publicly inciting others to commit a crime.” The court decided to lift the judicial supervision condition imposed on Timur Soykan and adjourned the hearing to July 10, 2026.
Timur Soykan was detained on July 5, 2025, and was released on judicial supervision by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred.
(06/110) The Trial of Journalists in Mardin…
The trial of journalists Öznur Değer and Osman Akın, initiated on the grounds of a news report they published regarding torture allegations against Kamil Aksoy, the Commander of the Kızıltepe Gendarmerie Commando Battalion, continued on June 16, 2026, at the Mardin Heavy Penal Court No. 2. The indictment seeks to punish the journalists for the crime of “targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism.” The court adjourned the hearing until October 6, 2026.
(06/111) Co-Mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality and Political Party Leader Under Investigation…
According to news reports published on June 16, 2026, it was learned that the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had launched an investigation into Devrim Demir, Co-Mayor of the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, and Şirin Damar, Mardin Provincial Co-Chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, on the grounds of a press statement issued on August 13, 2025, regarding the appointment of a trustee to Mardin Metropolitan Municipality.
(06/112) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
On June 16, 2026, the trial of Fatma Saygılı began at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 as part of an investigation targeting the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP). The indictment seeks to convict Fatma Saygılı of the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court ruled to continue Fatma Saygılı’s arrest and adjourned the hearing to September 22, 2026.
Fatma Saygılı had been arrested on February 3, 2026.
(06/113) Suspended Mayor…
Bora Bağcıoğlu, the mayor of Silivri district in Istanbul, who was arrested on June 16, 2026, was suspended from office by the Ministry of the Interior on the same day.
(06/114) A Phobic and Discriminatory Panel at a University in Istanbul…
According to news reports on June 15, 2026, a phobic and discriminatory panel titled “Transgender Surgery and Regret” was held at Istanbul Medeniyet University.
[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.