Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 – 23 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/159) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned that 1 person who was part of the delegation of human rights defenders from various countries who came to Turkey to inspect high security prisons called “well-type” and was detained on February 19, 2026, on the grounds that their passports were restricted, was subjected to physical violence of the police because of refusing to sign the return document.
(02/160) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of Police and Police Officers in Van…
On February 20, 2026, it is learned that O.D., a peddler in İpekyolu district of Van and his son were subjected to physical violence of the police and police officers after a quarrel with the police officers of Van Metropolitan Municipality.
(02/161) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2026 that, Mehmet Edip Taşar, an ill prisoner in Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) L Type Prison No 5 was subjected to verbal and physical violence of the doctor who examined him during his transfer to Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK). Mehmet Edip Taşar’s lawyer stated the following in his statement to the press “Mehmet Edip Taşar stated that he was subjected to verbal and physical violence by the doctors who examined him during his transfer to Forensic Medicine Institution. Taşar stated that he was not in a condition to walk, and that he was dragged to the ground and forced out of the hospital after the doctors said ‘you are lying, you can walk’.”
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2026 that books sent to Nadiye Gürbüz, Pınar Gayıp and Elif Bayburt in Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison were sent back without being delivered to the prisoners. It is stated in the news reports that only cargo sent from outside Istanbul is delivered to prisoners; and only relatives, visitors, guardians and lawyers are allowed to deliver books to prisoners by hand.
(02/162) Prisoner’s Release Adjourned by Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2026 that, the release of Mehmet Çelik, a prisoner in Yozgat T Type Prison No 2, who completed the execution of his life sentence, was adjourned for the sixth time for 6 months on February 13, 2026 by Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) on the grounds of “lack of remorse”. Mehmet Çelik’s execution was adjourned 3 times for three months, 1 time for six months and 1 time for nine months.
(02/163) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2026 that 11 prisoners (Ahmet Bilal Bay, Can Tekin, Hakkı Demiral, Hasan Hüseyin Yeşilova, Hasan Polat, Kenan Hessas, Kerem Bükre, Serdal Işık, Sıtkı Güngör, Yusuf Çıtırık and Cemil Aksu) in Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) L Type Prison No 6 went on a 3-day hunger strike against being monitored by cameras inside the wards.
(02/164) Detained People After Protest…
After the protest in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 20, 2026, against the killings of 6 women in one day across Turkey, 3 people are detained on the charge of ‘publicly insulting the State of the Republic of Turkey, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the State’ under Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code. Detained 3 people are released after statement procedures at the police on the same day.
(02/165) Detained Human Rights Defenders from Various Countries in Istanbul
It is learned that 6 members of the delegation consisting of a lawyer, two journalists, two academicians and a representative of a political party, who came to Turkey to inspect high security prisons called “well-type” prisons, were detained in Istanbul on February 19, 2026, on the grounds that their passports were restricted and were deported afterwards.
(02/166) Detained Journalist…
Journalist Mehmet Ali Ertaş was detained at a search point on February 22, 2026 while traveling from Mardin to Diyarbakır on the grounds of a warrant for his statement through an Ankara based investigation. Journalist Ertaş is released after statement procedures via Voice and Video Information System (SEGBİS) at Mardin Courthouse on February 23, 2026.
(02/167) Arrested Provincial Assembly Member and Other Person in Ağrı…
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Ağrı Provincial Assembly member Mihriban Dal and her mother Güneş Yaşmin, who were detained on the grounds of the yellow-red-green handkerchief they were holding while they were dancing the halay at a wedding, are arrested by the criminal court of peace on February 20, 2026 on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(02/168) Detained People in Balıkesir…
4 people (Cemal Camekan, Doruk Yıldırım, Çise Yıldız, Yücel Kurşun) including Polen Ecology Collective members Çise Yıldız and Yücel Kurşun and DEM Party members and executives who were detained in house raids in Balıkesir on February 18, 2026 are released by the criminal court of peace on judicial control conditions on February 20, 2026.
(02/169) Detained Political Party Members and Other People in Istanbul…
2 of 17 people including DEM Party members who were detained on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul are arrested by the criminal court of peace on February 20, 2026 on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. 15 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(02/170) Mayor and Other People on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 26 people including Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, 3 of whom are arrested, continued on February 18, 2026 at Istanbul Anadolu Heavy Penal Court No 17.
The indictment demands 26 people to be sentenced for ‘bid rigging’, ‘qualified fraud’ and ‘forgery of official documents’.
Following the defenses, the court decided to continue detention of Alaattin Köseler and adjourned the hearing to April 28, 2026.
13 of 26 detainees were detained on March 4, 2025 and Alaattin Köseler was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior. 12 people were released at the first hearing of the case on September 5, 2026. Alaattin Kösler was also released on the same date but was re-arrested upon the prosecutor’s objection.
[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.