Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 March 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/112) Individuals Detained in Connection with Newroz Celebrations…
As part of an investigation launched following the Newroz celebration held in Izmir, two of the 22 individuals detained in Izmir on March 24, 2026, were arrested on March 25, 2026, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, on charges of “making organization propaganda.” The remaining 20 individuals were released.
The General Directorate of Security announced that 27 people were detained in Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Siirt, and Bitlis on March 24–25, 2026, as part of investigations launched following the Newroz celebrations. Accordingly, as of March 25, 2026, the total number of people detained across Turkey reached 209.
(03/113) Police Intervention at a Protest in Ankara…
On March 25, 2026, police intervened in a march held in Ankara’s Çankaya district to mark the anniversary of the detention and arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, detaining 31 people using physical force and tear gas. Those detained were released the same day.
(03/114) Journalists Covering News in Ankara Blocked by Police…
On March 25, 2026, it was reported that police prevented journalists covering a march in Ankara marking the anniversary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest and detention from taking footage. During the police’s obstruction of the journalists, it was reported that journalist İbrahim Türk was subjected to verbal and physical violence by the police and had his ID card confiscated.
(03/115) Person Detained in Istanbul…
On March 24, 2026, a person who shared footage of their home being ransacked during a police raid in Istanbul on social media was detained on March 25, 2026, on the charge of “publicly disseminating misleading information,” and was released the same day following questioning at the police station. The individual’s name could not be determined.
(03/116) Person Arrested in Istanbul on the Pretext of a Social Media Post…
It was reported that Mehmet Emin Uyanık, who was detained in Yalova on March 23, 2026, as part of an investigation initiated by the Istanbul Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office following a complaint by the author of the book titled “My Flower Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi,” was arrested by the magistrate’s court to which he was referred on March 24, 2026.
(03/117) Individuals Detained in Batman…
On March 26, 2026, four individuals (Rahmi Etike, Kadri Kara, Sedat Sinet, Gurbet Üzün) were detained during home raids in Batman. The reason for the detention could not be determined.
(03/118) The Trial of a Former Member of Parliament…
According to news reports on March 26, 2026, Mahmut Alınak, who served as a member of parliament in the 18th and 19th terms of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months in prison by the Istanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul, the 1-year-and-2-month prison sentence handed down for the crime of “insulting the President” was upheld by the 4th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.
(03/119) The Trial of Journalists and Others in Şırnak…
Among the 28 individuals on trial, including Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut, JINNEWS reporter Derya Ren, and Ajasa Welat reporter Mahmut Altıntaş, the indictment prepared by the Silopi Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding a protest held on October 15, 2024, in the Silopi district of Şırnak was accepted by the Silopi Criminal Court of First Instance on March 25, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the 28 individuals for the crimes of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911” and “resisting the performance of duty.” The first hearing of the case will take place on May 13, 2026.
(03/120) The Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
In the case filed at the Istanbul 29th Criminal Court of First Instance against Ali Ergin Demirhan, a member of the editorial board of Sendika.org, based on a news article published on the website, Following an appeal against the 3-month and 22-day prison sentence imposed for the crime of “publicly insulting religious values embraced by a segment of the public,” the final hearing of the case, which was reheard at the Istanbul 26th Criminal Court of First Instance, took place on March 25, 2026. The court sentenced Ali Ergin Demirhan to 5 months in prison.
(03/121) Canceled Concert…
According to news reports on March 24, 2026, it was learned that artist İlkay Akkaya’s concert scheduled for April 3, 2026, in Kastamonu was canceled by the organizing company following social media posts targeting the artist.
[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.