Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
2 – 5 October 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/014) Workers Who Lost Their Lives in the Maden Accident in Manisa…
From news reports published on 2 October 2026, it was learned that five workers lost their lives and two were injured in a cave-in that occurred in the Soma district of Manisa.
(10/015) Racist and Discriminatory Attack at an Event in Istanbul…
From news reports on 4 October 2026, it was learned that the Japanese culture and anime festival, scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 October 2026 in the Ümraniye district of Istanbul, had been targeted by phobic and discriminatory groups, and that these groups had attacked the event following a press statement they had issued. It was reported that the event was brought to an early close as a result of the attack.
(10/016) University Students in Istanbul Subjected to an Attack…
It was reported that on 1 October 2026, students belonging to the Free University Movement, who had hung a banner relating to Palestine on the Istanbul University campus, were subjected to verbal and physical attacks by a racist nationalist student group. It was stated that no one was injured in the attack.
(10/017) Phobic and Discriminatory Intervention at Club Promotions in Istanbul…
It has been reported that on 2 October 2026, at the Mimar Sinan University of Istanbul campus, private security personnel intervened regarding badges and stickers featuring rainbow flags displayed at stands set up for student club promotions.
(10/018) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
From news reports published on 1 October 2026, it was learned that Aydın Altığ, a prisoner held at Kırşehir High-Security Prison, was not permitted to attend the funeral of his late father on the grounds that he was ‘subject to a stricter regime of imprisonment’.
From news reports published on 2 October 2026, it was learned that Mehmet Pehlivan, the detained lawyer of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was transferred from the Tekirdağ Çorlu Karatepe High-Security Closed Prison to the Kocaeli Kandıra F-Type Prison against his will and without his consent.
(10/019) Police Intervention at a Protest in Istanbul…
On 3 October 2026, police intervened in a march held on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district to protest the deaths of five workers in a mine collapse in the Soma district of Manisa, detaining 15 people using physical force. Those detained were released after giving statements at the police station. It was reported that one person’s finger was broken during the intervention.
(10/020) Mayor and Others Detained in Istanbul…
On 2 October 2026, as part of an investigation into the Eyüpsultan District Municipality in Istanbul, 28 people, including Mayor Mithat Bülent Özmen, were detained on allegations of ‘bribery’ and ‘tampering with a tender’.
(10/021) Mayor and Others Detained in Istanbul…
On 3 October 2026, as part of an investigation into the Ataşehir District Municipality in Istanbul, 13 people, including Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş, were detained.
(10/022) Former MP Detained in Tunceli…
It was reported that Alican Önlü, a former Member of Parliament for Tunceli from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), was detained on 1 October 2026 in the Ovacık district of Tunceli on the grounds that he had failed to pay a fine imposed in a case against him and that the fine had consequently been converted into a prison sentence. Alican Önlü was released the same day after paying the fine.
(10/023) Journalist Arrested…
On 2 October 2026, journalist Derya Okatan was detained in Ankara as part of an investigation centred in Istanbul and transported to Istanbul, where she was remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court to which she was referred on the same day.
(10/024) Political Party Executive and Another Individual Detained in Şırnak…
From news reports published on 1 October 2026, it emerged that Rıdvan Yusufoğlu, a member of the Party Assembly (PM) of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and Dilan Yörüklü, an activist with the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad – TJA), were detained on 29 September 2026 in the Silopi district of Şırnak. It was reported that the two individuals were released on 2 October 2026 following their statements to the public prosecutor’s office.
(10/025) Party Executive Taken into Custody in Istanbul…
Ahmet Saymadi, a member of the Party Council (PM) of the Socialist Reconstruction Party (SYKP), was detained in Istanbul on 5 October 2026.
It was reported that a search was carried out by officers from the Narcotics Branch at the business premises managed by Ahmet Saymadi, and that no illicit drugs were found during the search. Ahmet Saymadi was remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred on the same day, on the charge of “facilitating the use of illicit drugs”.
(10/026) Association Member Arrested in Istanbul…
It has been reported that Bahar Beytekin, a member of the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), was taken into custody at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse whilst attending to give evidence as part of an ongoing investigation, and was subsequently taken to Eskişehir, where she was remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”.
(10/027) Person Detained in Bitlis…
It has been reported that a man named Mahmut Üzen was detained during a house raid carried out on 4 October 2026 in the Hizan district of Bitlis. The grounds for his detention could not be ascertained.
(10/028) Individuals Detained in Bolu…
On 28 September 2026, as part of an investigation into a cooperative operating under Bolu Municipality, 11 individuals were detained; of these, five were remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court to which they were referred on 1 October 2026, whilst six were released subject to judicial supervision.
(10/029) Individuals Arrested in Kırıkkale…
Three individuals detained as part of an investigation into Kırıkkale Municipality were remanded in custody on 2 October 2026 by the magistrates’ court to which they were referred, on charges of ‘bribery’.
(10/030) Trial in Istanbul Involving the Mayor and Other Individuals…
Proceedings continued on 2 October 2026 in the case brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 10 against nine individuals, including Hakan Bahçetepe, the Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa in Istanbul. The court ruled that Hakan Bahçetepe should remain in custody and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(10/031) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case against journalist Ali Çağatay, brought before the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 5 on the grounds of a social media post he made, took place on 1 October 2026. The court acquitted the journalist of the charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “publicly insulting the police force”.
Ali Çağatay had been arrested on 27 June 2026 and was released at the first hearing of the case on 10 September 2026.
(10/032) The Trial of a Swedish Citizen Journalist…
The trial of Swedish citizen journalist Joakim Medin, which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13, continued on 1 October 2026. The indictment seeks Joakim Medin’s conviction on charges of “membership of an organisation” and “propagandising for an organisation”. The court decided to await a response to the letter of request sent to obtain Joakim Medin’s defence statement and adjourned the hearing until 5 January 2027.
Joakim Medin was detained at Istanbul Airport on 27 March 2025, arrested on 28 March 2025 and released on 16 May 2025.
(10/033) The Trial of Journalists in Istanbul…
The trial, brought before the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 against Ramazan Yurttapan, Editor-in-Chief of the Democratic Modernity magazine, the magazine’s editor Haydar Ergül and three writers on charges of insulting the President, resumed on 2 October 2026. The court adjourned the hearing until 1 March 2027.
(10/034) The Trial of a Publisher in Istanbul…
The trial of Hüseyin Gültepe, an employee of Ceylan Publications, which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 22, resumed on 1 October 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Hüseyin Gültepe on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”. The court ordered Hüseyin Gültepe’s release and adjourned the hearing until 19 November 2026.
Hüseyin Gültepe had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/035) Trial of a Political Party Member in Istanbul…
The trial of Erol Tunç, a member of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28, resumed on 1 October 2026.
The indictment seeks Erol Tunç’s conviction on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”. The court ordered Erol Tunç’s release and adjourned the hearing until 19 November 2026.
Erol Tunç had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/0.36) Trial in Istanbul Concerning a Retired Officer…
The final hearing in the case brought against retired Rear Admiral Türker Ertürk at the Istanbul Bakırköy Criminal Court of First Instance No. 5, on the grounds of a social media post he had made, took place on 5 October 2026. The court sentenced Türker Ertürk to 2 years, 2 months and 20 days’ imprisonment on charges of “threats” and “incitement to commit a crime” and ordered his release upon sentencing.
Türker Ertürk had been arrested on 17 August 2026.
(10/037) Social Media Accounts and Games Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to news reports published on 1 October 2026, it was learned that the X social media account belonging to the EngelliWeb project—which monitors and documents access restrictions on behalf of the Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD)—had been blocked and rendered invisible from within Turkey.
From news reports published on 2 October 2026, it was learned that the Kurdish-language X social media account belonging to the Mesopotamia News Agency had been blocked.
From news reports published on 2 October 2026, it was learned that the new X social media account belonging to the T24 news website had been blocked on the grounds of ‘protecting national security and public order’.
From news reports published on 3 October 2026, it was learned that access to 31 X social media accounts, including those belonging to journalists and academics, had been blocked on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order”, and that the accounts had been made invisible from within Turkey.
According to press reports on 5 October 2026, it was learned that access to 88 X social media accounts – including those belonging to the IFÖD and journalists Hamdi Çelikbaş and Yiğit Uzun – had been blocked on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order”, and that the accounts had been made invisible from within Turkey.
According to press reports on 5 October 2026, it was learned that a new X social media account belonging to journalist Alican Uludağ had been blocked on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order”, and that the account had been made invisible from within Turkey.
According to press reports on 5 October 2026, it was learned that an access ban had been imposed on the X social media account belonging to Sky News correspondent Alex Crawford, who works in Turkey, pursuant to a decision dated 13 September 2026 by the 4th Bakırköy Magistrates’ Court in Istanbul.
[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.