Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 – 20 May 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/096) Individuals Wounded as a Result of Fire Opened by Security Forces…
It is learned from news reports published on May 19, that three individuals were allegedly wounded as a result of fire opened by units of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against a group of civilians reportedly attempting to cross the border from Syria into Turkey.
(05/097) Prisoner Dies in Prison…
It learned from news reports on May 15, 2026, that Şeyhmus Demir, a prisoner held at Diyarbakır No. 3 T-Type Prison, died on May 7, 2026, at the hospital to which he had been transferred. The reports also claim that despite an infection developing in Şeyhmus Demir’s body, he was not treated for a month and was transferred to the hospital on May 5, 2026, after his condition worsened.
(05/098) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It learned from news reports published on May 19, 2026, that during a family visit at Adana Suluca No. 1 High-Security Prison, a tension arose between inmates and guards, and during the guards’ intervention in the visitation area, an inmate named Fevzi Arslan suffered a heart attack.
(05/099) Person Subjected to Coercion to Become an Informant in Mardin…
It is learned from news reports published on May 15, 2026, that a person summoned to the Mardin Provincial Police Department to give a statement was subjected to coercion to become an informant by individuals who identified themselves as intelligence officers.
(05/100) A Person Subjected to Physical Violence by Private Security Guards in Istanbul…
On May 17, 2026, during a Patti Smith concert in Istanbul, it was reported that a person who objected to the intervention by private security units against an individual carrying signs and flags related to Palestine was forcibly removed from the concert venue using physical violence, while footage of the incident recorded by another person was forcibly deleted. It was reported that the person removed from the concert venue was later readmitted.
(05/101) Journalist Detained in Aydın…
On May 16, 2026, journalists Yelis Ayaz and Emin A. were detained as part of an investigation initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding a news story involving the child of an Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP from Aydın. On the same day, Yelis Ayaz was referred to the criminal court and detained on charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information,” while Emin A. was released on judicial supervision.
(05/102) Journalist Re-Arrested in Urfa…
Journalist Mehmet Yetim, who was arrested on April 19, 2026, on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information” due to a news report he wrote regarding the school attack in Siverek, was ordered released on May 15, 2026, following a review of his detention. While the release proceedings were still ongoing, the prosecutor’s appeal to a higher court resulted in a ruling to continue Mehmet Yetim’s detention.
(05/103) Writer Detained in Istanbul…
Writer Yıldız Çakır, who was detained at Istanbul Airport upon her arrival from Germany on May 15, 2026, on the charge of “making organization propaganda,” was released the same day following her statement to the prosecutor’s office.
(05/104) Municipal Employee Detained in Manisa…
Demirhan Gözaçan, advisor to the Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, who was detained on May 12, 2026, as part of an investigation centered in Istanbul, was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on May 16, 2026.
(05/105) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
Eleven of the 12 individuals detained on May 15, 2026, as part of an investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Zeynep Düşmez, Erkan Kavlak, Hakan Çakır, Erkan Koç, İbrahim Yaşaroğlu, Muhammet Sertaç Kazıcı, Ayhan Taş, Murat Er, Menderes Çakmak, İhsan Sabri Kurtuluş, and Niyazi Baştürk) were detained on May 18, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “tampering with a tender,” while one person (İsmail Kurtuluş) was released under house arrest.
(05/106) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
Seven individuals detained on May 15, 2026, as part of an investigation targeting the Üsküdar Municipality in Istanbul were arrested on May 18, 2026, by the Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace No. 7, on charges of “bribery.” The names of the arrested individuals could not be determined.
(05/107) Individuals Detained in Denizli…
As part of an investigation into the Denizli Merkezefendi Municipality, 13 individuals were detained on May 15, 2026; 12 of them, including Deputy Mayor Emrah Karan, were arrested on May 18, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “bribery” and “tampering with a tender.” One person was released on judicial supervision.
(05/108) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On May 18, 2026, 57 people were detained on allegations of “bid-rigging” as part of an investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
(05/109) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On May 20, 2026, five individuals were detained on allegations of “bribery” and “money laundering” as part of an investigation into the Istanbul Beşiktaş Municipality.
(05/110) Individuals Detained in Izmir…
On May 20, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, 3 individuals were detained on charges of “forming an organization to commit a crime” and “bid-rigging.”
(05/111) Individuals Detained in Eskişehir…
On May 14, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Eskişehir Tepebaşı Municipality, 25 people were detained; among them, 15—including Deputy Mayor S.Y.—were arrested by the magistrate’s court on May 18, 2026, while 10 were released on judicial supervision.
(05/112) The Trial of the Mayor in Antalya…
The final hearing in the case filed at the Manavgat Heavy Penal Court No. 3 against 43 individuals—including Manavgat Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara, five of whom were in custody—was held on May 15, 2026. The court sentenced Niyazi Nefi Kara to a total of 46 years, 10 months, and 15 days in prison and a fine of 2.5 million lira for the crimes of “establishing and leading a criminal organization,” “accepting bribes,” “extortion,” “embezzlement,” and “laundering assets derived from criminal activities.”
Niyazi Nefi Kara was arrested on July 10, 2025, and removed from office by the Ministry of the Interior.
(05/113) Indictment Prepared Against the Mayor of Burdur and Others…
According to news reports on May 16, 2026, an indictment prepared by the Burdur Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 51 individuals, including Burdur Mayor Ali Orkun Ercengiz, was accepted by the Burdur Criminal Court of First Instance No. 1. The indictment seeks the prosecution of the defendants for the crime of “abuse of office.” The first hearing of the case will take place on July 13, 2026.
(05/114) Individuals on Trial in Istanbul…
Following the overturning by the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals of a 6-month prison sentence imposed in a case involving 6 individuals who were detained during a police intervention at a press conference held on September 10, 2022, in front of the Eminönü ferry terminal in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district to protest human rights violations in prisons, the final hearing of the retrial was held on May 13, 2026. The court sentenced the six individuals to five months in prison for the offense of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911.”
(05/115) Person on Trial in Eskişehir…
The final hearing in the case filed against an individual named M.E.K. at the Eskişehir Criminal Court of First Instance No. 11, on the grounds of a social media post regarding the Mayor of Mihalgazi, was held on May 15, 2026. The court sentenced M.E.K. to 7 months and 15 days in prison for “insulting a public official.”
M.E.K. was arrested on February 8, 2026, and was released at the first hearing of the case on May 8, 2026.
(05/116) Person Subject to an Investigation…
It was learned from news reports on May 15, 2026, that an investigation was launched by the Directorate of Tobacco and Alcohol under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry against Şükrü Mısıroğlu, a retired Çaykur employee living in the Hopa district of Artvin, on the grounds of “violating the ban on alcohol advertising,” citing a social media post he made regarding a meal he had prepared.
(05/117) MPs Against Whom Indictments Have Been Prepared…
It was learned from news reports on May 15, 2026, that two indictments prepared against two MPs, seeking the lifting of their parliamentary immunity, were sent to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
MPs for whom indictments were prepared:
Özgür Özel, Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and MP for Manisa
Keskin Bayındır, Co-Chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and MP for Batman.
(10/118) Lawsuit Filed Regarding the CHP Istanbul Congress…
The hearing in the lawsuit filed at the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance No. 45 regarding the annulment of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress held on October 8, 2023, resumed on May 15, 2025. The court ruled that the interim administration appointed to the CHP provincial administration should continue its duties and adjourned the hearing to July 10, 2026.
(05/119) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case filed at the Istanbul Criminal Court against three individuals for allegedly spray-painting a wall in a park in Beşiktaş and a Turkish Telekom utility box to protest the arrest and detention of the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor took place on May 19, 2026. The court sentenced the three individuals to 3 months and 10 days in prison for the crime of “damaging public property.”
(05/120) Banned Play…
According to news reports on May 19, 2026, the Ankara Birlik Theater’s play titled “Aşık Mahzuni Şerif,” scheduled to be staged on May 24, 2026, at the Teachers’ House in the Gümüşhacıköy district of Amasya on May 24, 2026, had been banned by the District Directorate of National Education on the grounds that it “could create religious and national sensitivities” and “could cause divisions among the public.”
(05/121) Social Media Accounts and Internet Content Subject to Access Restrictions…
In a statement issued by the Presidency of Communications on May 19, 2026, it was noted that access restrictions were imposed on 1,731 social media accounts alleged to be affiliated with the illegal organization, and that actions were taken against 361 accounts.
Regarding the owner of the TV100 television channel, https://www.birgun.net/ (2 news articles), https://halktv.com.tr/, https://www.diken.com.tr/, https://www.krttv.com.tr/, https://kisadalga.net/, it was learned that access to 6 news articles on these websites was blocked pursuant to a decision by the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 10 dated May 15, 2026, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
According to news reports published on May 18, 2026, regarding an operation conducted in Samsun and Ordu based on allegations that some doctors at the Ondokuz Mayıs University Health Application and Research Center had accepted bribes from patients, access to 3 news articles at https://www.turkgun.com/, https://www.cnnturk.com/, https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/—access restrictions were imposed on these three news articles under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, citing the need to protect national security and public order.
(05/122) Discriminatory and Phobic Remarks by a Political Party Deputy Chairman…
According to news reports published on May 20, 2026, it was learned that AKP Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Yayman used the following discriminatory and phobic statements in a speech he delivered at an event held at Ankara University of Social Sciences: “We can never accept an order where gender neutrality and LGBT propaganda are considered normal. Here, it is not merely a matter of the responsibility of the family, the individual, or public authorities; a comprehensive mobilization is required. Because this issue is taking the world hostage as a threat.”
[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.