Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
7 July 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/036) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Custody in Istanbul…
It was reported that on July 5, 2026, in Istanbul, a person who was detained was subjected to physical violence by the police after refusing to provide the passcode to their phone during a home raid, and that the phone’s lock was bypassed using facial recognition after the police forcibly pried open the person’s eyes. It was reported that this individual sustained facial injuries as a result of the torture and other ill-treatment to which they were subjected.
(07/037) Interventions, Detentions, and Bans Regarding NATO Summit Protests…
Ramazan Kap, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the People’s Liberation Party (HKP), was detained in Düzce on July 6, 2026.
Of the 42 people detained during home raids in Antalya on July 5, 2026, 19 were released on July 6, 2026, following their police interrogations. It was reported that the detention period for 23 people was extended by one day.
Police intervening in a protest held in Antalya on July 6, 2026, detained two people.
On July 7, 2026, police intervened against a crowd that had gathered to participate in a protest at Kurtuluş Park in the Çankaya district of Ankara, using tear gas and physical violence. It was reported that members of parliament were also subjected to physical violence during the police intervention, and that Sevda Karaca, a member of parliament from the Labor Party, was attempted to be detained by police despite stating her status as a member of parliament. It was reported that a person detained during the intervention was subjected to physical violence and had their throat squeezed inside the detention vehicle to which they were taken. Police also intervened in a protest held on Dikmen Street in the Çankaya district. It was reported that a total of 73 people, including Sevinç Hocaoğulları, President of Halkevleri, were detained in Ankara using physical violence and handcuffed behind their backs.
On July 7, 2026, it was reported that police prevented journalists covering the protest in Ankara’s Çankaya district from filming, and that some journalists were subjected to physical violence.
(07/038) Journalist Detained in Istanbul…
Journalist Hazar Dost was detained by police on July 6, 2026, while shopping in Istanbul, on the grounds that his statement was incomplete in a case filed against him. Hazar Dost was released on July 7, 2026, following the completion of his statement.
(07/039) Journalist Detained in Istanbul…
Kayhan Ayhan, a reporter for the BirGün newspaper, was detained on July 6, 2026, in Istanbul on the grounds of his news reports and social media posts, which constituted “publicly disseminating misleading information to the public.” On July 7, 2026, journalist Kayhan Ayhan was brought before a magistrate’s court and released under judicial supervision, subject to a travel ban and a requirement to sign in regularly.
(07/040) The Trial of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor…
The trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which was initiated at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 59 on the grounds that his university diploma was obtained irregularly, continued on July 6, 2026. The indictment seeks to convict Ekrem İmamoğlu of the crime of “serial forgery of official documents.” The court adjourned the hearing until December 25, 2026.
(07/041) The Trial of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, a Journalist, and Others…
The trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, journalist Merdan Yanardağ, and Necati Özkan and Hüseyin Gün, which was filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 25, resumed on July 6, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the four individuals on charges of “political espionage.” The court ruled to continue the detention of the four individuals and adjourned the hearing until September 29, 2026.
(07/042) Journalist and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM) member Ezgi Gürbüz, and Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) Central Executive Committee member Simay Ada Kart, which was filed at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14, resumed on July 7, 2026. The indictment seeks to convict the three individuals on charges of “being a member of an organization” and “spreading propaganda for an organization.” The court adjourned the hearing until September 28, 2026.
Züleyha Müldür, Ezgi Gürbüz, and Simay Ada Kart were arrested on January 25, 2025. Züleyha Müldür was released on house arrest as a condition of judicial supervision during the hearing held on June 25, 2025, while Ezgi Gürbüz and Simay Ada were released under the same condition during the hearing held on September 18, 2025; this judicial supervision measure was lifted during the hearing held on February 27, 2026.
(07/043) The Trial of a Life Advocate…
The final hearing in the case against life and human rights advocate Esra Işık—which was filed at the Muğla Milas Criminal Court of First Instance No. 3 on the grounds of protests against the expropriation of agricultural lands surrounding the Akbelen Forest—took place on July 6, 2026. The court sentenced Esra Işık to a fine of 44,200 lira for the offense of “insult” and suspended the pronouncement of the sentence, while sentencing her to 2 years and 1 month in prison for the offense of “resisting the performance of official duties.”
Esra Işık was arrested on March 31, 2026, and released on May 11, 2026.
(07/044) Political Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Ezgi Gürbüz, a leader of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), began on July 7, 2026, at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 14. The indictment seeks to punish Ezgi Gürbüz for the crime of “being a member of an organization.” The court ruled to release Ezgi Gürbüz under the condition of house arrest and adjourned the hearing until October 1, 2026.
(07/045) The Trial of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Officials…
The trial of 14 individuals, initiated at the Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 34 on the grounds of concerts organized by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality between 2021 and 2024, resumed on July 7, 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the 14 individuals on charges of “embezzlement.” The court adjourned the hearing until October 16, 2026.
(07/046) Social Media Accounts Subject to Access Restrictions…
According to news reports on July 6, 2026, it was learned that access to an article by journalist Tuğçe Tatari regarding allegations related to a nursing home in Batman, published at https://t24.com.tr/, was restricted by a decision of the Batman Magistrate’s Court.
[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.