(08/086) ECHR Ruling on Osman Kavala…
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued its ruling on Osman Kavala’s application on August 25, 2026. In its judgment, the ECHR found violations of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment; Article 5, which guarantees the right to liberty and security; Article 6, which guarantees the right to a fair trial; Article 10, which guarantees freedom of expression; Article 11, which governs the freedom of assembly and association; and Article 18, which prohibits the use of restrictions on the rights enshrined in the Convention for purposes other than those for which they were intended. The Court ordered Turkey to pay Osman Kavala 70,000 euros in compensation and to cover his legal costs in the amount of 43,000 euros.
The ECHR’s decision also noted that the trial against Osman Kavala was viewed as part of a broader process in which political opponents, human rights defenders, and journalists were detained and prosecuted on the basis of criminal offenses interpreted very broadly; it further stated that structural deficiencies in Turkey facilitate the executive branch’s influence over judicial decisions, particularly in politically sensitive cases.
(08/087) Racism at a Super League Match…
It was reported that during the Super League match between Kocaelispor and Amedspor, played in Kocaeli on August 24, 2026, racist chants were shouted and “yellow bags” were waved in the stands occupied by Kocaeli fans.
As part of an investigation launched by the Kocaelispor Chief Prosecutor’s Office regarding the chanting of racist slogans and the waving of “yellow bags” in the Kocaelispor stands, it was reported that five individuals were taken into custody on August 25, 2026, and were subsequently released by the magistrate’s court under the judicial control measure of house arrest.
(08/088) Inmate Whose Release Was Postponed by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
According to news reports on August 25, 2026, it was learned that the release of Mehmet Sait Yıldırım, a sick inmate held at Izmir Kırıklar No. 1 F-Type 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 refused to accept the imposition of a requirement to express remorse. The reports noted that the prisoner’s release had previously been postponed twice. They also reported that a dispute arose during his meeting with the CİGK over the forced expression of remorse, and that Mehmet Sait Yıldırım suffered a heart attack in his cell upon returning and was taken to the hospital.
(08/089) Police Intervention at a Protest in Ankara…
On August 25, 2026, police intervened in a protest held by workers from Eti Gümüş and Doruk Madencilik in front of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara over unpaid wages and compensation claims, detaining four people, including Başaran Aksu, an organizing specialist with the Independent Miners’ Union. While those detained were released later that same day, it was reported that Başaran Aksu was re-arrested on the charge of “openly inciting the public to hostility.” On August 26, 2026, Başaran Aksu was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred.
(08/090) Police Intervention at a Protest in Izmir…
On August 25, 2026, police intervened in a protest held in İzmir regarding the arrest of Alparslan Kuytul, the founding president of the Furkan Foundation. Footage showing a person subjected to physical violence by the police during the intervention was published in the media.
(08/091) Union Leader Detained in Manisa…
Gökay Çakır, President of the Independent Mining Workers’ Union, was detained on August 25, 2026, in the Soma district of Manisa, citing social media posts as the reason. On August 26, 2026, Gökay Çakır was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on the charge of “publicly inciting the public to hostility.”
(08/092) Individuals Detained as Part of an Investigation Targeting the “Süleymancılar” Community…
On August 21 and 22, 2026, 10 of the 12 people detained in simultaneous operations conducted in Istanbul, Konya, Mersin, and Muğla as part of an investigation targeting the community known as the “Süleymancılar” (Hilmi Tuna Kuriş, Mehmet Özmen, Osman Sert, İsa Ateş, Abdullah Özcan Yavuz, Taner Çetin, Metin Surat, Mehmet Ünal, Erhan Yılmaz, and Süleyman Tuna Akbulut) were detained on August 26, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “forming, leading, and being a member of a criminal organization,” “laundering assets derived from crime,” “fraud,” and “violation of the Tax Procedure Code.”
It was reported that 38 more individuals were taken into custody during operations conducted on August 25, 2026, as part of the investigation targeting the same religious community.
It was also reported that, as part of the investigation, trustees were appointed to 11 companies and 3 associations affiliated with the community on August 25, 2026.
(08/093) Indictment Prepared Against a Retired Officer in Istanbul…
According to news reports published on August 25, 2026, it was learned that the Istanbul Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had prepared an indictment against retired Rear Admiral Türker Ertürk, citing a social media post he made as grounds.
The indictment seeks to punish Türker Ertürk on charges of “threats” and “incitement to commit a crime.”
Türker Ertürk was arrested on August 17, 2026.