Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 20 July 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/118) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports published on July 20, 2026, it was learned that inmates named Songül Dilek, Hatice Duman, Zeynep Yeter, and Remziye Turmuş, who were being held at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, were transferred to other prisons against their will. It could not be determined to which prisons the inmates were transferred.
According to news reports published on July 20, 2026, it could not be determined whether the inmates Çiğdem Mater and Mine Özerden, who were being held at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, were transferred to the Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison against their will
(07/119) Police Intervention at a Protest in Ankara…
It was reported that police did not grant permission for a “justice stand-in” to be held on July 17, 2026, in front of the Ministry of Justice in Ankara’s Çankaya district, organized by the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK) on behalf of civil servants dismissed from their professions via Decrees with the Force of Law (KHK). In response to the police blockade, officers intervened in the vigil held in front of the KESK General Headquarters by using tear gas, detaining 20 people, including members of the KESK Executive Board and Güneş Gümüş, Chairperson of the Socialist Workers’ Party (SEP). The 20 individuals were released after giving statements at the police station.
(07/120) Mayor and Others Detained in Kocaeli…
On July 20, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Kocaeli İzmit Municipality, operations were conducted in five provinces, resulting in the detention of 28 people—including Mayor Kaplan Hürriyet—on charges of “forming an organization to commit crimes,” “bribery,” and “tampering with a tender.”
(07/121) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On July 16, 2026, as part of an investigation into the Beykoz Municipality in Istanbul, six people were detained. On July 17, 2026, two of them were remanded in custody by the magistrate’s court on charges of “bribery” and “extortion,” while the remaining four were released under judicial supervision.
(07/122) The Trial of the Mayor and Others in Istanbul…
The trial of 31 individuals, including Istanbul Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, which was filed with the Istanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court, continued on July 17, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 31 individuals on charges of “establishing and leading a criminal organization for profit,” “accepting bribes,” “extortion,” and “laundering assets derived from crime.” The court ruled to extend the detention of five individuals, including Hasan Akgün, to release one person under house arrest as a judicial control measure, and adjourned the hearing until September 2, 2026.
Hasan Akgün was arrested on June 3, 2025, and was suspended from his position by the Ministry of the Interior on the same day.
(07/123) Indictment Prepared Against a Journalist in Istanbul…
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Pınar Gayıp, an employee of the Active News Agency (ETHA), was accepted by the Istanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court on July 20, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The first hearing in the case will be held on September 14, 2026.
Pınar Gayıp was arrested on February 3, 2026.
(07/124) Indictment Filed Against a Journalist in Istanbul…
The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against ETHA employee Elif Bayburt was accepted by the Istanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court on July 20, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The first hearing in the case will be held on September 29, 2026.
Elif Bayburt had been arrested on February 3, 2026.
(07/125) Party Banner Taken Down in Karabük…
It was reported that on July 19, 2026, in Karabük, a banner reading “No to NATO,” which had been hung on the provincial headquarters building by the Felicity Party, was taken down by the police. News reports also noted that an administrative fine of 3,705 TL was imposed on the grounds that the banner violated the Misdemeanors Law.
(07/126) Members of Parliament Against Whom Indictments Have Been Prepared…
According to news reports on July 17, 2026, it was learned that a total of 9 indictments prepared against 7 members of parliament, seeking the lifting of their parliamentary immunity, were sent 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)/Group Leader and Member of Parliament for Manisa (3 indictments)
Hüseyin Yıldız, CHP Member of Parliament for Aydın
Suat Özçağdaş, CHP Member of Parliament for Istanbul
Oğuz Kaan Salıcı, CHP Member of Parliament for Istanbul
Mustafa Adıgüzel, CHP Member of Parliament for Ordu
Murat Bakan, CHP Member of Parliament for Izmir
Mesut Doğan, New Path Party Member of Parliament for Ankara
[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.