Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/123) Prisoner Prevented from Access to Health…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 17, 2026 that Özkan Çelik, an ill prisoner in Trabzon Beşikdüzü T Type Prison, was given only one medication instead of four medications he should take regularly.
(02/124) Party Executive Arrested in Urfa…
Hüseyin Aslan, Urfa provincial executive of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who was called to testify to the prosecutor’s office on February 16, 2026 through the investigation against him for participating in a protest on attacks against Kurds in Syria, is arrested by the criminal court of peace on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent duty’.
(02/125) Detained Political Party Members and Other People in Istanbul…
On February 17, 2026, 13 people including DEM Party members are detained in house raids in Istanbul on the grounds of ‘being member of an illegal organization’. It is also learned that detainees are restricted from seeing their lawyers for 24 hours. The names of detainees could not be learned.
(02/126) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The retrial of the case against Mehmet Şahin, writer of Xwebûn newspaper, continued on February 17, 2026 at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The indictment demands sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to June 11, 2026.
At the final trial of the case against journalist Mehmet Şahin at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 6 held on February 10, 2022, the court sentenced him to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, which was reversed by Criminal Chamber No. 9 of Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals.
(02/127) Person on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Ramazan Şimşek, on the grounds of announcing that Pine Café, which he owns, will serve only in Kurdish after 15 May Kurdish Language Day in 2024, continued on February 17, 2026 at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The indictment demands sentence for Ramazan Şimşek on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The court adjourned the hearing to April 21, 2026.
(02/128) Blocked Internet Contents…
It is learned that a total of 9 news reports on https://www.evrensel.net (3 news reports), https://haber.sol.org.tr/ (2 news reports) , https://www.babaocagi.com.tr/ , https://www.sozcu.com.tr/ (2 news reports), https://www.patronlardunyasi.com/ websites related to 2 holding companies are banned to access on the grounds of national security and protection of public order by Gaziantep Criminal Judicature of Peace No 5 on February 13, 2026.
It is learned that 3 news reports about a relative of a deputy minister on https://www.birgun.net/ , https://www.sozcu.com.tr/, https://12punto.com.tr/ websites are banned to access on the grounds of protection of national security and public order, under Article 8/A of Law No 5651.
(02/129) Unauthorized Political Party Event in Istanbul…
Istanbul Governorate prevented the march of Republican People’s Party (CHP) on privatizations, which was planned to be held in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul on February 17, 2026.
(02/130) Detained People Through an Istanbul Based Investigation…
On February 17, 2026, 18 people were detained in operations covering 8 cities through an Istanbul based investigation on the allegations of ‘being a member of the current structure of the organization’.
[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.