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20 June 2025 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

20 June 2025 Daily Human Rights Report

(06/112) Refugee/Migrant Who Lost His Life at the Deportation Center…

According to news reports on June 20, 2025, it was learned that Khasan Umarov, an Uzbek refugee/asylum seeker held at the Muğla Ula Deportation Center, lost his life at the hospital to which he was transferred.

(06/113) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…

According to news reports published on June 19, 2025, it was learned that Civan Boltan, a prisoner held at the Bolu F-Type Prison, was sentenced to 11 days in solitary confinement as a result of a disciplinary investigation initiated on the grounds that books and writings were seized during a cell search.

(06/114) Prisoner Denied Access to Healthcare…

According to news reports on June 20, 2025, journalist Perihan Erkılıç, who is being held at the Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison, was not provided with the necessary dietary foods despite being diagnosed with celiac disease.

(06/115) Prisoners Whose Release Was Postponed by the Prison Administration and Monitoring Board…

According to news reports on June 19, 2025, it was learned that the release of Çetin Arkaş, an inmate held at Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) Prison who had completed his life sentence, was postponed for three months by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) on the grounds that he was not in good conduct. It was learned that Çetin Arkaş’s release had been postponed six times previously.

(06/116) Interventions and Bans Targeting Pride Month…

It has been reported that participants in a picnic held on June 18, 2025, at the Ege University campus in Izmir as part of Trans Equality Day were threatened by police and private security guards with the statement, “We will intervene if the flags are not removed,” due to the rainbow flags they were carrying. The report also stated that banners intended to be hung on the school building were confiscated by private security guards.

(06/117) Lawyer Arrested in Istanbul…

Mehmet Pehlivan, the lawyer of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested on June 19, 2025, by a magistrate’s court on charges of “membership in a criminal organization” following his interrogation by prosecutors.

(06/118) Association executive detained in Istanbul…

Sinem Çelebi, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), was detained on June 18, 2025, in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul during a GBT check on the grounds that she had not given a statement in a case filed against her. She was released on June 19, 2025, after giving a statement at the Istanbul Kartal Courthouse.

(06/119) Persons Detained in Istanbul…

Two individuals named Mustafa Keleş and Murat Keleş were detained on June 19, 2025, as part of an investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

(06/120) Persons Detained for Hanging Banners in Istanbul…

On June 20, 2025, during house raids in Istanbul, two individuals whose names were not disclosed were detained for hanging banners at a company’s building in Istanbul regarding its commercial relations with Israel.

(06/121) Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…

The trial of journalist Furkan Karabay, who is accused of insulting the President in social media posts, continued on June 19, 2025, at the Istanbul 74th Criminal Court of First Instance. The court postponed the hearing to July 11, 2025.

(06/122) Trial of a Journalist in Diyarbakır…

The retrial of Xwebûn newspaper writer Mehmet Şahin at the Diyarbakır 5th Heavy Penal Court continued on June 19, 2025. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for “being a member of an organization.” After hearing the defense, the court postponed the hearing to September 23, 2025.

In the final hearing of the case against journalist Mehmet Şahin at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on February 10, 2022, the court sentenced the journalist to 6 years and 3 months in prison for “being a member of an organization.” This decision was overturned by the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals, Criminal Chamber No. 9.

(06/123) Indictment Prepared Against Journalist in Elazığ…

According to news reports on June 19, 2025, an indictment was prepared by the Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Zülfü Bal, owner of the local newspaper Tek Medya published in Elazığ, based on a complaint filed by the Rector of Fırat University regarding a news article published in the newspaper. The indictment seeks the punishment of the journalist for “publicly insulting a public official in connection with his duties.”

(06/124) Political Party Executive on Trial in Van…

The trial of Fikret Doğan, former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Van and co-chair of the Van City Council, began on June 19, 2025, at the Van Heavy Penal Court No. 4. The indictment seeks punishment for Fikret Doğan on charges of “being a member of an organization.” The court decided to release Fikret Doğan and postponed the hearing to a later date.

Fikret Doğan was arrested on December 16, 2024.

(04/125) Trial of a Party Leader in Istanbul…

The trial of Cem Aydın, head of the youth wing of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), continued on June 20, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14 on charges of insulting the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor on social media. The indictment seeks the punishment of Cem Aydın for “publicly insulting a public official in connection with his duties” and “targeting persons who have been involved in the fight against terrorism.” The court postponed the hearing until September 15, 2025.

(06/126) Persons on Trial in Tunceli…

The trial of 49 individuals who were charged with participating in the funeral of politician Aysel Doğan began on June 20, 2025, at the Tunceli Criminal Court of First Instance No. 1. The indictment seeks the punishment of the 49 individuals for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911.”

The court postponed the hearing until October 17, 2025.

(06/127) Person on Trial in Istanbul…

The trial of Kardelen Taş and Dilek Posl, who are being prosecuted as part of an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), continued on June 19, 2025, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13. The indictment seeks the punishment of two people for “being a member of an organization.” The court decided to release the two individuals and postponed the hearing to October 21, 2025.

Kardelen Taş and Dilek Posl were arrested on February 11, 2025.

(06/128) Individuals Investigated for Social Media Posts…

According to news reports on June 20, 2025, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into individuals who made social media posts claiming that persons arrested as part of investigations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and later released under the provisions of effective repentance had been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and had made statements under pressure, coercion, and threats. The total number of individuals under investigation is unknown.

(06/129) Onur Yaser Can Case…

Four police officers (H. A., M.O., O.Ü., Y.B.) in the case of the suicide of Onur Yaser Can in 2010 following torture and other ill-treatment while in custody, on charges of “tampering with, destroying or concealing official documents,” was overturned by the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice, and the retrial began on June 20, 2025. The court postponed the hearing until January 9, 2026.

[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.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.

[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT

[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari

[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.