Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
27 June 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/169) Lawyer Threatened in Istanbul…
The Istanbul Branch of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) announced in a statement on June 25, 2025, that on May 23, 2025, a lawyer named Diren Yüksel was approached by individuals who identified themselves as intelligence officers, who blocked his path and asked questions about the cases he was handling, and threatened him with the following statement: “You will not touch these files. If you touch them again, we will deal with you.” In the statement, it was also noted that after Diren Yüksel reported the incident to the Istanbul Bar Association, he was called on June 25, 2025, from an unknown number and threatened again with the words, “You shouldn’t have brought this matter to the bar association. You went to court again today. We’ll deal with you differently from now on.”
(06/170) Journalist Threatened in Şırnak…
According to news reports on June 26, 2025, individuals claiming to be relatives of a person mentioned in journalist Zeynep Durgut’s article titled “Prostitution Gang in Şırnak” threatened her, saying, “We know who you are. We know where you come from. I have investigated you. You are coming here to stir things up. We will not leave you alone. You will not get away with this.”
(06/171) Prisoners Whose Release was Postponed by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
According to press reports dated June 26, 2025, it was learned that the release of Melike Göksu, former co-mayor of Karayazı district in Erzurum, who was held in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison and had completed her prison sentence, was postponed for three months by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK) on the grounds that she did not attend the board meeting.
According to press reports on June 26, 2025, the release of Serdar Başaran, who was held in Samsun Bafra T-Type Prison and completed his prison sentence on May 20, 2025, was postponed for six months by a decision of the CİGK on the grounds that he had not requested to leave the organization.
(06/172) Interventions and Bans Targeting Pride Month…
The İzmir Governor’s Office announced on June 26, 2025, that it had banned meetings, marches, press statements, sit-ins, setting up stalls/tents, distributing leaflets, hanging posters/banners, protest actions, picnics, and other activities planned for Pride Month in İzmir. Pride Week, including meetings, marches, press statements, sit-ins, setting up stalls/tents, distributing leaflets, hanging posters/banners, protest actions, picnics, celebrations, festivals, and similar actions and events, for a period of three days from June 27, 2025, to June 29, 2025.
(06/173) Journalist Arrested in Artvin-based Investigation…
Journalist Metin Yoksu was arrested on June 26, 2025, after being taken to the Batman Courthouse to give a statement as part of an Artvin-based investigation. He was detained by the magistrate’s court following his statement to the prosecutor’s office.
Of the even journalists who were detained on June 13, 2025, as part of the same investigation and referred to the magistrate’s court on June 17, 2025, Ozan Cırık, Eylem Emel Yılmaz, Dicle Baştürk ve Yavuz Akengin were arrested, while Semra Pelek, Melisa Efe, and Ömer Bülenter were released on judicial control conditions.
(06/174) Journalist Detained in Antalya…
On June 24, 2025, journalist Ulaş Sezgin was detained in Antalya on allegations of making propaganda for an organization on social media. He was released on June 25, 2025, after giving a statement to the police.
(06/175) Trial of the Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır…
The trial of Besile Narin, co-mayor of the Hani district of Diyarbakır, continued on June 26, 2025, at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4. The indictment seeks to punish Besile Narin for “being a member of an organization.” The court adjourned the hearing until November 11, 2025.
(06/176) Trial of former MP in Urfa…
The trial of Ayşe Sürücü, former MP of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in Urfa, continued on June 26, 2025, at the Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 17. The indictment seeks to punish Ayşe Sürücü for “being a member of an organization” and “making propaganda for an organization.” The court rejected requests to lift the travel ban and judicial control conditions imposed on Ayşe Sürücü and adjourned the hearing until October 15, 2025.
(06/177) Trial of Political Party Executive in Diyarbakır…
The final hearing in the case against Cabbar Leygara, former co-chair of the HDP in Diyarbakır, was held on June 26, 2025, at the Diyarbakır 4th Heavy Penal Court. The court sentenced Cabbar Leygara to one year and three months in prison for “making propaganda for an organization.”
(06/178) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Berfin Azdal and Emrecan Bayram, who are being prosecuted as part of an investigation into the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), began on June 26, 2025, at the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court. The indictment seeks the punishment of the two individuals for “being a member of an organization.”
The court decided to release the two individuals and adjourned the trial to a later date.
(06/179) Trial of a Journalist in Diyarbakır…
According to press reports on June 26, 2025, the Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals, 2nd Criminal Chamber, ruled on the appeal against the one-year and three-month prison sentence handed down by the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 9 on charges of “making propaganda for an organization” against journalist Mehmet Ali Ertaş. (06/180) Trial of a Newspaper Employee in Diyarbakır…
(06/180) Trial of Newspaper Employee in Diyarbakır…
The final hearing in the trial of Zilan Gül, an employee of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper, who was charged with making propaganda for an organization by distributing a newspaper that had been banned from publication, distribution, and sale, was held on June 26, 2025, at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4. The court sentenced Zilan Gül to 2 years and 1 month in prison for “making organization propaganda.”
(06/181) Indictment Prepared Against a Journalist in Diyarbakır…
It has been learned that the indictment prepared against journalist Berivan Kutlu for her television appearances and social media posts related to the 2023 Maraş earthquake was accepted by the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4 on June 26, 2025. The indictment seeks to punish the journalist for “making propaganda for an organization.” The first hearing of the case will be held on October 16, 2025.
(06/182) Trial of Cartoonist in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against cartoonist Zehra Ömeroğlu, which was opened at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 on the grounds of a cartoon titled “Sex in the Pandemic” published in a magazine on November 25, 2020, was held on June 26, 2025. The court acquitted Zehra Ömeroğlu of the charge of “obscenity.”
(06/183) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of a person named Y.O.A. for statements made in a street interview began on June 27, 2025. The court announced its decision at the first hearing and acquitted Y.O.A. of the charge of “threatening the president.”
It was learned that Y.O.A. had been in custody for 77 days due to his statements in the street interview.
(06/184) Indictment Prepared Against an Academic…
An indictment prepared by the Istanbul Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against academic Prof. Dr. Celal Şengör, citing his statement, “I have never encountered a society as ignorant as the Turkish people or as devoid of moral values as the Turkish people,” was accepted by the Beykoz Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2. The indictment seeks the punishment of Celal Şengör for “publicly insulting the Turkish nation.” The first hearing of the case will be held on September 11, 2025.
(06/185) Security Officer on Trial for the Death of Mehmet Uytun…
Mehmet Uytun, a 16-month-old baby, lost his life on October 9, 2009, in the Cizre district of Şırnak when he was hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by security forces intervening in a protest while he was on the balcony of his home. The court rejected the request for the arrest of the defendant, specialist sergeant H.A., and postponed the trial to October 21, 2025. The court rejected the request for the arrest of the defendant, Specialist Sergeant H.A., and adjourned the hearing until October 21, 2025.
(06/186) TV Channels Penalized by RTÜK…
According to news reports on May 26, 2025, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) imposed a 10-day screen blackout penalty on Halk TV for remarks made by a participant on the program “Sinem Fıstıkoğlu ile Sansürsüz.” Additionally, RTÜK imposed a penalty on Halk TV for the remarks made by a participant in the program “Sinem Fıstıkoğlu ile Sansürsüz”; “Before and After Night” Sözcü TV was fined for comments made regarding the headline of a news article in Akit newspaper about Ferdi Zeyrek, the Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality who lost his life after being electrocuted; Tele 1 was fined for comments made regarding the headline of a news article in Akit newspaper about Ferdi Zeyrek; and Netflix was fined for the film “Barda,” while Spotify was fined for certain songs available on its platform.
(06/187) Special Security Zone in Şırnak…
The Şırnak Governor’s Office announced on June 16, 2025, that the areas of Dilekyolu, Tuzluca, Ayrancı,
Çığlıca, and İncebeldağları regions within the borders of the Beytüşşebap district of Şırnak Province as a temporary special security zone for a period of 9 days from June 27, 2025, to July 5, 2025, and that entry into the region is prohibited.
[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.