Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
25 February 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/181) Prisoner’s Release Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
On February 25, 2026 it is learned from the news coverage of February 25, 2026 that, the release of İbrahim Tekin Çelik, a prisoner in Izmir Buca Prison, who completed the execution of his life sentence in May 2025, has been adjourned for 11 months by Prison Administration and Monitoring Board (CİGK) on the grounds of “lack of remorse”.
(02/182) Journalists on Trial in Ankara…
The final hearing of the case against 7 journalists (Damla Kırmızıtaş, Derya Okatan Albayrak, Fatih Polat, Fırat Can Arslan, Handan Ceren Bayar, Hüseyin Hayatsever and Kaan Can Bircan) for following the Kobane Case’s final hearing held on May 16, 2024, was held on February 24, 2026 at Ankara West Criminal Court of First Instance No 14. The court sentenced 7 journalists to 18 days imprisonment on the charge of ‘unauthorized recording or transmission of audio or video recordings during investigations and prosecutions’. The court deferred the announcement of the verdict for Damla Kırmızıtaş and ruled that the execution regime specific to repeat offenders be applied to journalist Fatih Polat due to his previous conviction. The court converted the prison sentences given to other journalists into 900 TL judicial fine.
(02/183) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
On February 24, 2026, it is learned from news coverage of February 24, 2026 that Istanbul Regional Court of First Instance Penal Department No 26, which adjudicated the appeal of Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Orhan Bursalı on the grounds of a social media post that led to a 1 year and 8 months’ imprisonment sentence for the charge of ‘illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data’, ruled for the acquittal of the journalist.
(02/184) Lawyers on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against lawyer Necat Çiçek, a member of Lawyers’ Association for Freedom (ÖHD), continued on February 24, 2026 at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The indictment demands sentence for the lawyer on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court decided to continue the judicial control measure of ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to May 12, 2026.
(02/185) Lawyer on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The retrial of the case against ÖHD member lawyer Özüm Vurgun continued on February 24, 2026 after the acquittal verdict of the case against her was reversed by Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals Heavy Penal Court No 9. The indictment demands sentence for the lawyer on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to April 30, 2026.
(02/186) Lawyer on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against lawyer Ramazan Demir, on the grounds of his social media posts, was held at Istanbul 27th Criminal Court of First Instance on February 24, 2026. The court sentenced the lawyer to 7 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘denigrating the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the State’ under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
[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.