Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
9 May 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/057) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports on May 8, 2025, three prisoners held in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison were suspended from activities for one month as a result of a disciplinary investigation launched on the grounds that they hugged people who were not their visitors during a visit.
According to news reports published on May 8, 2025, six inmates at the İzmir Şakran Women’s Prison were each sentenced to one month of deprivation of communication rights in a disciplinary investigation opened on the grounds that they had made noise during an open visit.
(05/058) No Response to Request for Meeting with Abdullah Öcalan…
It has been learned that the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office did not respond to the application made by lawyers on May 8, 2025, to meet with their clients, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş, who are being held in Imralı Prison.
(05/059) Human Rights Defenders Detained in Istanbul…
Nihat Göktaş, a member of the Istanbul Prison Commission of the Human Rights Association (İHD), and Hülya Gerçek, a member of the İHD, who were detained during a raid on their homes in Istanbul on May 5, 2025, on the grounds that they had sent money to a prisoner in need, thereby “financing terrorism,” were released on May 8, 2025, by the magistrate’s court to which they were referred, with the condition of house arrest. It was also learned that Emre Altan and Mehmet Aslan, who were detained in the same investigation, were arrested, while two others were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/060) Political Party Leader and Others Arrested in Izmir…
Four people, including Mehmet Deviren, the head of the Kemalpaşa District Youth Branch of the CHP, who were detained for writing graffiti about the president on walls in Izmir, were arrested on May 8, 2025, by the magistrate’s court on charges of “insulting the president” and “damaging public property.”
(02/061) Trial of the Co-Mayor of Tunceli…
The trial of Birsen Orhan, one of the co-mayors of Tunceli Municipality elected from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior and replaced by a trustee, was held on May 8, 2025, at the Tunceli Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2. The court sentenced Birsen Orhan to 7 months and 15 days in prison for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911” and 1 year, 6 months, and 22 days in prison for “resisting the performance of duty,” totaling 2 years, 2 months, and 7 days in prison, and postponed the announcement of the verdict.
(05/062) Trial of a Journalist in Bitlis…
The trial of journalist Sinan Aygül, who is also the president of the Bitlis Journalists’ Association, was held on May 8, 2025, at the Bitlis Tatvan Criminal Court of First Instance No. 3 3 on charges of threatening the bodyguards of the mayor who attacked him. The court acquitted Sinan Aygül.
Sinan Aygül had been subjected to physical violence by two bodyguards of Tatvan Mayor Mehmet Emin Geylani on June 17, 2023, following his reports on corruption and irregularities at the Tatvan Municipality.
(05/063) Trial of a Journalist and Former Party Official in Istanbul…
Journalist Barış Terkoğlu and former Deputy Chairman of the İYİ Party Ahmet Zeki Üçok were tried in the Criminal Court of First Instance No. 2 in Istanbul for reporting on allegations that a prosecutor had been pressured to close certain cases while working at the Istanbul Courthouse, under the headlines “How are influential FETÖ members being saved?” and “Mr. Prosecutor, I’m coming, add this article too.” The trial was held on May 8, 2025. The indictment seeks punishment for the journalist and former party official on charges of “repeatedly insulting a public official.” The court postponed the hearing to November 6, 2025.
(05/064) Trial of a Journalist in Adıyaman…
The indictment prepared by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Ahmet Kanbal, citing his programs related to the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023, in the center of Maraş, was accepted by the Adıyaman Criminal Court of First Instance on May 9, 2025. The indictment seeks the punishment of Ahmet Kanbal for the crime of “publicly disseminating misleading information.”
(02/065) Trial of a Journalist in Istanbul…
The trial of journalist Ahmet Güneş, who was charged in the Heavy Penal Court No. 25 of Istanbul, began on May 8, 2025. The indictment seeks to punish Ahmet Güneş for “being a member of an organization.” The court postponed the hearing to September 11, 2025.
(05/066) Individuals on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of eight LGBT+ activists who participated in the Pride March held in Istanbul on June 30, 2024, began on May 8, 2025, at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance No. 76. The indictment seeks the punishment of the eight individuals for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911.” The court postponed the hearing to July 10, 2025.
(05/067) Individuals on Trial in Edirne…
The indictment prepared by the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 17 people, three of whom are in custody, citing protests in Edirne against the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, was accepted by the Edirne Criminal Court of First Instance on May 8, 2025. The indictment seeks the punishment of the 17 individuals for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911.” The first hearing of the case will take place on May 28, 2025.
(05/068) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Murat Çelik, who was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment by police and prison guards on March 31, 2024, while being held at the Istanbul Metris R Type Prison, continued on May 8, 2025, at the Istanbul Bakırköy Criminal Court of First Instance No. 32, following a complaint filed by the police officers involved. The indictment seeks the punishment of Murat Çelik for the crime of “resisting a public official.” Following the defense arguments and witness statements, the court adjourned the hearing until October 16, 2025.
(05/069) Person on Trial in Tekirdağ…
Following the trial of Mısra Öz, who lost her son in a train accident in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ on July 8, 2018, the trial continued on May 8, 2025, at the Tekirdağ Çorlu Criminal Court of First Instance No. 3, citing her statement made after the trial. The indictment seeks the punishment of Mısra Öz for the crime of “insulting a public official in the course of their duties.” After hearing the defenses, the court adjourned the hearing until July 10, 2025.
(05/070) Person Against Whom an Indictment Has Been Prepared…
According to news reports on May 9, 2025, an indictment was prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against Murat Övünç based on a social media post he made. The indictment seeks the punishment of Murat Övünç for the crime of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility.”
[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.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[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.