Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
9 – 11 May 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/049) People Injured as a Result of Police Gunfire in Istanbul…
On May 9, 2026, at the ferry terminal in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district, it was reported that a total of four people were injured as a result of gunfire opened by police who intervened against an individual alleged to have attacked them with a machete; one of the injured was the person alleged to have carried out the attack (Fahrican D.). The names of the other injured individuals: Yusuf Y., Eylül Y., Muhammet Ali S.
(05/050) Individuals Subjected to Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Ankara…
It was reported that during home raids on May 8, 2026, regarding incidents that occurred during a concert held as part of the traditional Spring Festival at Middle East Technical University (METU), six individuals who had been detained were handcuffed behind their backs and forced to lie on the ground, and footage of these moments was released to the press.
(05/051) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It was learned from news reports on May 9, 2026, that relatives of inmates visiting Şırnak T-Type Prison were subjected to strip searches; that relatives were prohibited from greeting or speaking with other inmates in the visiting area; and that relatives who violated this prohibition were punished by being deprived of visiting rights for one month.
It was learned from news reports on May 11, 2026, that relatives of inmates visiting Samsun Bafra T-Type Prison were subjected to strip searches.
(05/052) Inmate Whose Release Was Adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
It was learned from news reports on May 8, 2026, that the release of Nedime Yaklav, an inmate held at the Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison who had completed her life sentence, was adjourned for the seventh time by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK). The reports noted that Nedime Yaklav has been in prison for 34 years. The reports also mentioned that the release of three other inmates held at the same prison had been adjourned within the last month. The names of the inmates could not be determined.
(05/053) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It learned from news reports on May 10, 2026, that Cem Dursun, a member of Grup Yorum, and Tacettin Erol Şahin, both held at Marmara (Silivri) No. 6 L-Type Prison, have begun an indefinite, irreversible hunger strike in protest of the human rights violations they are subjected to. The reports stated that the prisoners were not being given vitamins B1 and B12, and that they were only allowed out for exercise for two hours a day.
(05/054) Journalist Subjected to Police Intervention While Covering News…
On May 11, 2026, it was reported that Jinnews reporter Aycan Metin, who was covering an event organized in Tatvan district of Bitlis as part of Mother’s Day, was blocked by police and threatened with the statement, “If you film this, I will take legal action against you.”
(05/055) Individuals Detained in Ankara…
Regarding the incidents that occurred during a concert held as part of ODTÜ’s traditional Spring Festival, two of the six individuals detained on May 8, 2026, were arrested by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred on May 10, 2026. The remaining four were released under judicial supervision with a requirement to sign in.
(05/056) Individuals Detained in Istanbul…
Seven of the 29 individuals detained on May 8, 2026, as part of an investigation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) were released on May 9, 2026. Of these 7 individuals, 1 was released after giving a statement to the prosecutor’s office, while 6 were released by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred under judicial supervision (1 under house arrest, 5 with a reporting requirement and a ban on leaving the country). It was reported that 22 individuals remain in custody.
It was also reported that one individual returning from abroad was detained at Istanbul Airport on May 10, 2026, as part of the same investigation.
(05/057) Investigation Launched Against the CHP Chairman…
It was learned from news reports on May 9, 2026, that the Istanbul Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel due to his remarks regarding the Minister of Justice.
(05/058) Trial of Journalists in Istanbul…
The trial of former Taraf newspaper employees Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, Yıldıray Oğur, and Mehmet Baransu, which was initiated at the Istanbul Anatolia Heavy Penal Court No. 2, continued on May 11, 2026. The indictment seeks to punish the journalists for the crimes of “obtaining information related to national security” and “disclosing information classified as secret in terms of national security or political interests.” The court adjourned the hearing until December 14, 2026.
(05/059) Investigation Initiated Against a Journalist…
Journalist Zafer Arapkirli went to the Istanbul Sarıyer District Police Department on May 8, 2026, to give a statement as part of an investigation launched following a criminal complaint filed by the Ministry of National Education against those who signed the “We Defend Secularism Together” statement.
(05/060) Comedian Facing Indictment…
It learned from news reports on May 11, 2026, that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had prepared an indictment against comedian Tuba Ulu on the grounds of a joke she made during a performance regarding Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The indictment seeks to punish the comedian for the crime of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility.”
(05/061) Internet Content Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been reported that Istanbul Criminal Court of Peace No. 4 issued a decision on May 8, 2026, imposing an access block on three news articles published on https:https://ankahaber.net/, https://halktv.com.tr/, and https://www.gazetepencere.com/ on the grounds that they violated the privacy of private life, and ordering the removal of the articles.
It has been reported that the Ankara Criminal Court of Peace No. 1 issued a decision on May 8, 2026, imposing an access ban on the website http://akpden.com/ on the grounds of protecting national security and public order.
[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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[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[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.