Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 – 22 June 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/132) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports published on June 20, 2026, it was learned that an inmate named Volkan Ayvazlı at the Manisa Akhisar T-Type Prison was subjected to physical violence by correctional officers and sustained injuries to various parts of his body.
(06/133) Police Intervention in Protests in Istanbul and Ankara…
On June 19, 2026, police intervened in a protest held in front of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security by members and leaders of the Private Sector Teachers’ Union who were on a hunger strike, detaining nine people using physical force. It was reported that during the intervention, police used their shields to prevent journalists and lawyers from filming the incident. The nine individuals were released the same day.
On June 20, 2026, police intervened using physical force against a protest organized by members and executives of the Private Sector Teachers’ Union on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district. It was reported that those participating in the protest were held in a police van for a while and later released. It was also reported that the four individuals in question were subsequently detained by police at a café where they were sitting. It was reported that the four individuals were released the same day after giving their statements to the police.
On June 21, 2026, police intervened using physical force and tear gas against a march organized by the Private Sector Teachers’ Union from the union’s representative office in Ankara’s Çankaya district to the Miners’ Monument. As a result of the intervention, five people were detained after being subjected to physical violence and handcuffed behind their backs. It was reported that at least four people, including the union’s General President Eren Edebali, were injured.
(06/134) Interventions, Detentions, and Bans Targeting Pride Month…
Following the Pride March held in Ankara on June 20, 2026, police detained 8 people. Those detained were released after giving statements at the police station.
Following the 12th Trans Pride March held in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district on June 21, 2026, police detained 13 people, including 2 journalists. All 13 were released the same day after giving statements to the police.
Prior to the Trans Pride March in Istanbul, demonstrations and events in the Beyoğlu and Kadıköy districts of Istanbul were banned for one day by the district governors’ offices. Under the ban issued for the Beyoğlu district, it was reported that on June 21, 2026, certain roads around Taksim were closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and that the Taksim Metro station and the Taksim-Kabataş Funicular Line were suspended.
(06/135) Journalists Detained While Covering the News…
On March 21, 2026, journalists Yusuf Çelik and Doğa Tekneci, who were covering the 12th Trans Pride March held in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district, were detained by police following the march. The two journalists were released the same day after giving their statements.
(06/136) Obstruction of Journalists While Covering News…
It was reported that on June 20, 2026, on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, police intervened against journalists covering a protest organized by members and executives of the Private Sector Teachers’ Union, and attempted to prevent them from filming.
(06/137) Individuals Detained Due to a Protest in Muğla…
Following a protest against NATO held on June 21, 2026, in connection with the visit of a French warship to the Marmaris district of Muğla—which was part of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7–8, 2026, in Ankara—four members of the Red Party were detained.
(06/138) Individuals Arrested in Istanbul…
Of the 23 individuals affiliated with various platforms (Independent Revolutionary Class Platform, Revolutionary Youth Union, Revolutionary Student Union, Struggle Union Platform) who were detained in Istanbul on June 15, 2026, 21 were arrested by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred on June 18, 2026, while 2 were released.
(06/139) Individuals Detained in Izmir…
On June 17, 2026, eight people were detained as part of an investigation targeting the Seferihisar Municipality in Izmir. On June 20, 2026, five of them—including Deputy Mayor Gökhan Pehlivan—were remanded in custody by the magistrate’s court on charges of “bribery,” while three were released.
(06/140) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
On June 16, 2026, 27 people were detained as part of an investigation into the Beylikdüzü Municipality in Istanbul. On June 19, 2026, 12 of them were remanded in custody by the magistrate’s court on charges of “bribery,” while 15 were released under judicial supervision.
(06/141) Person on Trial in Diyarbakır…
Ayşe Gökkan, former spokesperson for Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), is facing charges in the Heavy Penal Court No.9 in Diyarbakır on charges of “being a member of an organization,” “knowingly aiding an organization,” and “spreading organization propaganda.” Following the overturning of the original verdict by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeals, the final hearing of the retrial was held on June 19, 2026. The court sentenced Ayşe Gökkan to a total of 19 years and 6 months in prison—12 years for one count of being a member of an organization and 7 years and 6 months for another—and ordered that she remain in custody.
(06/142) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing in the case filed against a man named Yunus Kılıç at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 27—regarding slogans chanted during a protest in Istanbul related to Palestine—was held on June 18, 2026. The court sentenced Yunus Kılıç to 11 months and 20 days in prison on the charge of “insulting the President” and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(06/143) The President’s Phobic and Discriminatory Statement…
It was reported that the President’s speech on June 20, 2026, at an event marking the 30th anniversary of the Turkey Youth and Education Services Foundation (TÜRGEV), contained the following phobic and discriminatory statements:
“Deviations contrary to human nature, such as LGBT, as well as similar ideas and ideologies, are once again being attempted to be instilled into young minds by these groups.”
(06/144) Districts Where Protests and Events Are Banned…
The Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office in Istanbul issued a statement on June 20, 2026, banning meetings, demonstrations, press conferences, the distribution of leaflets, sit-ins, and similar actions and events within the district’s borders for a period of one day, effective as of 12:01 a.m. on June 21, 2026.
The Kadıköy District Governor’s Office in Istanbul announced on June 21, 2026, that it has banned gatherings, marches, press conferences, sit-ins, setting up booths, erecting tents, distributing leaflets, protests, and similar actions and events within the district’s borders for a period of one day, effective as of 12:01 a.m. on June 21, 2026.
(06/145) Social Media Accounts and Websites Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been reported that the Manisa Kula Magistrate’s Court, in a decision dated June 17, 2026, imposed an access restriction on the website https://change.org, a global campaign platform that enables the launch and support of petition campaigns.
It has been reported that the Amasya Criminal Court of Peace, in a decision dated June 18, 2026, imposed an access block on the website associated with a petition campaign launched by the Turkish Communist Movement regarding the NATO summit to be held in Ankara, citing the need to protect national security and public order.
https://natodefol.com/ It has been reported that the Bolu 1st Magistrates’ Court issued a decision on June 18, 2026, blocking access to the website on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
According to news reports published on June 19, 2026, access to at least 57 X social media accounts belonging to LGBTI+ and women’s organizations, platforms, and activists, as well as to the LGBTI+ commissions of human rights organizations and political parties, was blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
According to news reports published on June 19, 2026, the X social media account belonging to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Headquarters was blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order. It was reported that the account has not yet been made invisible in Turkey by X. Accounts subject to the access block: Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation, Lambdaistanbul LGBT+ Solidarity Association, Aslı Alpar, March 8 Feminist Night March, Burçin Tetik, Women’s Human Rights Association, SPoD, Çatlak Zemin, Association for the Struggle Against Sexual Violence, November 25 Women’s Platform, Pembe Hayat LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, LİSTAG, Gzone Magazine, Güldünya Publications, Ankara Women’s Platform, HEVİ LGBTI+ Association, Young LGBTI+ Association, LGBTI+ Health, FeminAmfi, Turkish Workers’ Party LGBTI+ Initiatives, Velvele, LGBTI+ in Prison, December Feminist Collective, Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, May 17 Association, LGBTIQ+ Assemblies, Colors of Resistance, TGS Women and LGBTI+ Commission, Hacettepe Queer Studies, Eskişehir Anatolia LGBTI+ Community, LeGeBİT – Ege University Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Research and Solidarity Group, 1. Ankara Rainbow Families Association (GALADER), Positive Solidarity, Human Rights Association LGBTI+ Commission, sugarmekanlar, Yeditepe University Students’ LGBTIQA+ Community, Ege University Gender Studies Community, March 8 Ankara Feminist Night March, Mersin Muamma LGBTI+ Association, Trans+ Procession, Izmir LGBTQIA+ Pride Week, Lubunya Solidarity, Lubunya Earthquake Solidarity, Kuir Baykuş, LGBTQIA+ Initiative for Peace (BİL+), LGBTQIA+ Medical Students Network, Access to Hormones Campaign, Feminist Health, Kırkyama Women’s Solidarity, June 18 LGBTQIA+ Solidarity Association, MEF LGBTQIA+ and Gender Equality Club, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University LGBTQIA+ Solidarity Group, What Happened to Arya Initiative, SARA COLLECTIVE, March 8 Lubunya Parade, 1st Kuşadası Colorful Dove LGBTQ+ Initiative.
According to news reports published on June 19, 2026, it was learned that access to the X social media account belonging to the Istanbul provincial organization of the Red Party had been blocked.
According to news reports on June 20, 2026, it was learned that access to one news article on the website https://haber.sol.org.tr/ regarding the NATO summit to be held in Ankara had been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
[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.20 – 2