Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 19 June 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/115) Person Kidnapped in Istanbul…
It has been reported that Erhan Karaal, Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş., was forcibly taken into a vehicle and kidnapped by three unidentified individuals in front of his home in the Maltepe district of Istanbul on June 17, 2026. It was reported that Erhan Karaal was found on June 19, 2026, at a construction site in the Tuzla district, with his hands and feet bound and having been subjected to physical violence. It was reported that eight people were taken into custody in connection with Erhan Karaal’s abduction.
(06/116) Police Intervention at a Protest in Ankara…
On June 17, 2026, police intervened in a press conference organized by the Private Sector Teachers’ Union in front of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in Ankara and detained 14 people, including union president Eren Edebali and organizing secretary Hüseyin Aksoy, using physical force. All those detained were released the same day following questioning at the police station.
(06/117) Police Intervention at a Protest in Bitlis…
On June 18, 2026, gendarmerie forces intervened in an ongoing sit-in protest against the Storage-Based Solar Power Plant (DGES) project planned for the pasturelands in the village of Ovakışla, part of the Ahlat district of Bitlis, and blocked access to the village, detaining one person named Nuri Ulaş.
(06/118) Protest Blocked in Kocaeli…
On June 18, 2026, a march planned by the Private Sector Teachers’ Union in the Gebze district of Kocaeli was blocked by police. It was reported that a press statement and a sit-in were subsequently held in front of the police barricade.
(06/119) Mayor and Others Detained in Mersin…
On June 19, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Silifke District Municipality in Mersin, eight people—including Mayor Mustafa Turgut—were detained.
(06/120) Mayor and Others Detained in Istanbul…
On June 19, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Adalar District Municipality in Istanbul, 41 people—including Mayor Ali Ercan Akpolat—were detained on charges of “bribery,” “extortion,” “forgery of official documents,” “forming and leading an organization to commit crimes,” and “abuse of office.”
(06/121) News Agency Owner Detained in Istanbul…
Mehmet Acettin, one of the owners of the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), who was detained on February 3, 2026, and released under house arrest as a judicial control measure, was detained again on June 16, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Marxist Theory journal. On June 18, 2026, Mehmet Acettin was brought before a magistrate’s court and released again under house arrest.
(06/122) Individuals Detained in Antalya…
Of the 10 people detained on June 16, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, 5 were arrested by the magistrate’s court on June 18, 2026, on charges of “bid-rigging,” “bribery,” “money laundering,” and “obstruction of contract performance,” while the other five were released, one of whom was released under regular supervision.
(06/123) Trial of a Journalist in Tunceli…
The trial of Yusuf Çelik, a reporter for the Özgür Gelecek newspaper, began on June 17, 2026, at the Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No. 1. The case was filed on the grounds of books sold at a booth set up during the Munzur Culture and Nature Festival held in Tunceli in July 2025.
The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crime of “knowingly and willingly aiding an organization.” The court adjourned the hearing until October 21, 2026.
(06/124) Trial of a Media Worker in Istanbul…
The trial of Müslüm Koyun, an ETHA employee, began on June 18, 2026, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 22. The indictment seeks to punish Müslüm Koyun for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court ruled to continue Müslüm Koyun’s detention and adjourned the hearing to July 16, 2026.
Müslüm Koyun had been arrested on February 3, 2026.
(06/125) Indictment Filed Against a Journalist in Ankara…
It has been reported that the indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Barış Terkoğlu—on the grounds of a social media post related to former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu—was accepted by the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance on June 18, 2026. The indictment seeks to have the journalist punished for the crime of “insulting a public official.” The first hearing in the case is scheduled for September 28, 2026.
(06/126) The Trial of a Political Party Executive in Istanbul…
The trial of Okan Danacı, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was initiated at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 22, began on June 18, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish Okan Danacı for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” It was reported that Okan Danacı participated in the hearing via SEGBIS because he refused to be transported to court in a single-occupancy vehicle. The court ruled to continue Okan Danacı’s detention and adjourned the hearing to July 16, 2026.
Okan Danacı had been arrested on February 3, 2026.
(06/127) Members of Parliament Against Whom Indictments Have Been Prepared…
According to news reports on June 18, 2026, a total of 14 indictments prepared against 12 members of parliament, seeking the lifting of their parliamentary immunity, were submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
Members of Parliament against whom indictments were prepared:
Özgür Özel, Elected Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Member of Parliament for Manisa (2 indictments)
Eylem Ertuğ Ertuğrul, CHP Member of Parliament for Zonguldak
Mustafa Sarıgül, CHP Member of Parliament for Erzincan (2 indictments)
Ulaş Karasu, CHP Member of Parliament for Sivas
Süleyman Bülbül, CHP Member of Parliament for Aydın
CHP Istanbul Member of Parliament Cemal Enginyurt
CHP Karabük Member of Parliament Cevdet Akay
CHP Çanakkale Member of Parliament İsmet Güneşhan
Good Party (İYİ Parti) Deputy Group Chair and Balıkesir Member of Parliament Turhan Çömez
Good Party (İYİ Parti) Afyon Member of Parliament Hakan Şeref Olgun
Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP) Istanbul Member of Parliament Ahmet Şık
New Way Party (Yeni Yol Partisi) Ankara Member of Parliament Mesut Doğan.
(06/128) Journalist Whose Press Card Was Revoked…
According to news reports published on June 18, 2026, it was learned that journalist İsmail Arı’s press card was revoked by the Communications Directorate on the grounds of a “criminal record,” despite the fact that he had no criminal conviction or criminal record.
(06/129) Discriminatory Treatment of a Trans Woman in Ankara…
According to news reports published on June 18, 2026, a trans woman named İrem was stopped on the street by plainclothes police officers in Ankara on June 12, 2026, and taken to the Çankaya District Police Department. It was reported that the police took Irem’s statement on the grounds of “indecent behavior.” The report alleged that charges were brought against Irem on the grounds of her clothing.
(06/130) Website and App Subject to Access Block…
It was reported that the LGBT+ focused app Hornet and its associated website were blocked by a decision of the Istanbul 3rd Criminal Court of Peace dated June 5, 2026.
(06/131) Boğaziçi University’s Phobic and Discriminatory Decision…
According to news reports published on June 17, 2026, it was learned that the university administration had deactivated the alumni card of a Boğaziçi University graduate for five years on the grounds that the graduate had hung a trans flag on campus as part of Trans Visibility Day on March 31.
[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.