Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 January 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/117) Police Intervention to Protests in Van, Diyarbakır…
The police used physical violence against the protest organized in Seyhan district of Adana on January 20, 2026 about the attacks against Kurds in Syria. It is not known how many people were detained during the intervention.
At least 10 people were detained during the police intervention against the protest organized for the same cause in Esenyurt district of Istanbul on January 20, 2026.
The Ministry of Interior announced that as of January 20, 2026, 356 people were under investigation, 35 people were arrested, 45 people were released with judicial control conditions and 77 people were still under custody.
Ministry of Justice made a declaration on January 21, 2025 and announced that 14 people are detained through the investigation on the flag of the Republic of Turkey being taken down in Nusaybin district of Mardin.
(01/118) Detained People in Istanbul…
On January 21, 2026, 11 people are detained through an investigation against Istanbul Bayrampaşa Municipality on the allegations of ‘bribery’, ‘embezzlement’, ‘extortion’ and bid rigging.
(01/119) Journalist and Another Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist Elif Akgül and Mehmet Saltoğlu through the investigation against Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 25 on January 20, 2026. The court acquitted 2 people on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’.
Elif Akgül and Mehmet Saltoğlu were arrested on February 21, 2025 and released on June 2, 2025.
(01/120) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the lawsuit filed on the grounds of a news report made by journalist Lube Ayar was held at Istanbul Bakırköy Criminal Court of First Instance on January 21, 2026. The court sentenced the journalist to 1 year and 8 months for ‘unlawful dissemination of personal data’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(01/121) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against journalist Barış Terkoğlu was held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on January 20, 2026. The court sentenced the journalist to 1 year and 15 days for ‘slander’ and adjourned the sentence.
(01/122) LGBTI+ Activist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against LGBTI+ activist İris Mozalar, who was detained during the police intervention against the March 8 Feminist Night March in 2025, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ started on January 19, 2026 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 76. The court decided to lift the judicial control measures against Iris Mozalar and adjourned the trial to February 25, 2026.
(01/123) The Case Against Tarlabaşı Community Support Association…
The dissolution case against Tarlabaşı Community Support Association (TTM), on the grounds of ‘unlawful and immoral activities’ of the association, is held at Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance No 18 on January 21, 2026. It is learned that press and audience were not allowed to the hearing. The court adjourned the hearing to September 16, 2026.
(01/124) Blocked Internet Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 19, 2026 that, a content on https://eksisozluk.com/ website about the rector of Istanbul University is banned to access on the grounds of protection of national security and public order by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 1 on January 19, 2026 and the content is ordered to be deleted.
[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.