Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 September 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/102) Police Intervention at a Protest in Istanbul…
Following the police intervention at a protest held in Istanbul on 15 September 2026 , during which physical violence was used and participants were handcuffed behind their backs, 106 people – including Birgün reporter Sarya Toprak and several lawyers – were detained; they were released on 16 September 2026 following medical examinations.
(09/103) Detentions and Arrests in the Context of Investigations Targeting LGBTI+ Individuals, Associations and Organisations…
As part of operations named ‘My Family is Safe’ by the Ministry of Justice, 20 of the 37 people detained in Istanbul were arrested by the magistrates’ court to which they were referred on 16 September 2026, whilst 15 others—including 14 subject to judicial supervision—were released. Two others had previously been released on grounds of age and health.
(09/104) Individuals Detained in Ankara as Part of an Investigation into a Software Company…
As part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into Aydo Yazılım—which provides software services to organisations, including trade unions, and consultancy services under the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK)—the National Intelligence Organisation (MİT), the Cyber Security Directorate (SGB) and the General Command of the Gendarmerie (JGK) detained five people, including the company owner and employees.
(09/105) The Trial in Istanbul Involving Journalists and Other Individuals…
The trial of journalists Tuğçe Yılmaz, Erdoğan Alayumat, Suzan Demir, Taylan Abatan, Gülcan Dereli, along with translator Serap Güneş and sociologist Berfin Atlı, which was initiated at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13, resumed on 17 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the seven individuals – five of whom are journalists – on charges of “aiding an organisation”. The court adjourned the hearing until 8 December 2026.
(09/106) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The trial concerning Can Uğur, News Editor of Cumhuriyet newspaper, in relation to his article titled “Was the fate of 1 million students gambled with? LGS questions were shared in a WhatsApp group before the exam had finished’ was brought before the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing, which was due to take place on 17 September 2026, was adjourned to a later date because the judge was on leave. The indictment seeks the journalist’s conviction on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information to the public”.
(09/107) Political Party Member on Trial in Adıyaman…
The trial of Yusuf Çıtrık, Adıyaman Representative of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was brought before the Adıyaman 2nd Heavy Penal Court, began on 16 September 2026. The indictment seeks Yusuf Çıtrık’s conviction on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organisation’ The court ordered Yusuf Çıtrık’s release on house arrest subject to judicial supervision and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Yusuf Çıtrık had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(09/108) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Nasuh Mahruki, former president of the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT), which was initiated at the Istanbul Bakırköy Criminal Court of First Instance No. 57 on the grounds of a social media post relating to the 15 July coup attempt, began on 16 September 2026. Following the defence submissions, the court announced its verdict at the first hearing, sentencing Nasuh Mahruki to 1 year and 3 months’ imprisonment on the charge of “inciting the public to hatred or hostility or humiliating them”. The court also ruled that the pronouncement of the sentence be deferred and that Nasuh Mahruki be released.
Nasuh Mahruki had been arrested on 17 July 2026.
(09/109) Social Media Accounts Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to news reports published on 16 September 2026, it was learned that access had been blocked to at least 33 social media accounts—including those of journalists İrfan Değirmenci and Şirin Payzın, as well as soL Haber, the Women’s Coalition and the Federation of Women’s Associations of Turkey—and that these accounts had been made invisible from within Turkey.
In a statement issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on 16 September 2026, it was stated that, as part of operations designated by the Ministry of Justice as ‘My Family is Safe’, access had been blocked to a total of 419 social media accounts and web addresses.
[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.