Women in Turkish Prisons – Zeynep Çoban
Profile VICTIM : Zeynep ÇobanINCIDENT : A Qur’an teacher and mother of two was imprisoned and sent to prison.LOCATION : Denizli, TurkeySITUATION : She was sentenced to 6 years and 10 months in prison on allegations of membership in the Gülen movement. Case Summary Zeynep Çoban, who is being held in Denizli Prison, was sentenced […]
Disabled Prisoners in Detention Centers, Critically Ill Prisoners in Turkish Prisons – Önder Poyraz
Profile VICTIM : Önder PoyrazINCIDENT : Despite being seriously ill and dependent on a wheelchair for daily life, the prisoner has not been released.LOCATION : Erzurum, TürkiyeSITUATION : He was sentenced to two aggravated life sentences on allegations of “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state” and “membership in an organization.” Case Summary Önder […]
Prisoners Who Died in Custody – Durmuş Zorlu
Profile VICTIM : Durmuş ZorluINCIDENT : A 54-year-old prisoner dismissed under an emergency decree (KHK) died after suffering a heart attack in prison.LOCATION : İzmir, TurkeySITUATION : Sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison on alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement. Case Summary Durmuş Zorlu, who was being held in İzmir Kırıklar Cezaevi, […]
Prisoners Who Died in Custody – Mehmet Çıtlak
Profile VICTIM : Mehmet ÇıtlakINCIDENT : A sick prisoner held in prison died.LOCATION : Gaziantep, TurkeySITUATION : Detailed information on the legal status is not available. Case Summary Mehmet Çıtlak, a seriously ill prisoner held in Gaziantep Prison, died while in custody. His deteriorating health condition had previously drawn public attention. Mehmet Türkmen, General President […]
Critically Ill Prisoners in Turkish Prisons – Musa Sertkal
Profile VICTIM : Musa SertkalINCIDENT : A seriously ill prisoner is being treated in the prison infirmary instead of being transferred to a hospital.LOCATION : Kocaeli, TurkeySITUATION : He was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment and an additional 52 years in prison. Case Summary Musa Sertkal, a seriously ill prisoner held in Kandıra Prison, is […]
Prisoners Who Died in Custody – Abdullah Yalçın
Profile VICTIM : Abdullah YalçınINCIDENT : A prisoner held in a solitary cell lost his life.LOCATION : Urfa, TurkeySITUATION : The details of the case file remain unknown. Case Summary Abdullah Yalçın, who was being held in Siverek Prison, was found dead in the cell where he had been staying alone. It was reported that […]
Women in Turkish Prisons – Rümeysa Şanal
Profile VICTIM : Rümeysa ŞanalINCIDENT : A mother with a 9-month-old baby suffering from a lung condition was arrested and sent to prison.LOCATION : İzmir, TurkeySITUATION : She was first detained and later arrested as part of investigations targeting the Gülen movement in İzmir. Case Summary Rümeysa Şanal, who is being held in İzmir Şakran […]
“Only Yes Means Yes”: The new EU Report on consent
Francesca LE PERA * Introduction Over the past few months, discussions around consent and sexual violence legislation have moved back to the centre of European political debate. On April 28th 2026, the European Parliament adopted a report calling for a harmonised, consent-based definition of rape across all EU Member States, summarised by the phrase “Only yes […]
Everyday Islamophobia: Impacts, Consequences and Paths to Inclusion
Ilhame Laghnimi* Islamophobia has become an increasingly visible and normalised form of discrimination in many societies. While it is often associated with extreme acts of violence, it is also deeply rooted in more subtle and everyday forms of expression. Hate speech, stereotypes, and repeated negative narratives contribute to shaping how Muslims, or those perceived to […]
Disabled Prisoners in Detention Centers, Critically Ill Prisoners in Turkish Prisons – Hamdullah Aydemir
Profile VICTIM : Hamdullah AydemirINCIDENT : A prisoner with a 92% disability rating was detained and sent to prison after the expiration of his sentence postponement decision.LOCATION : Van, TurkeySITUATION : He was prosecuted in 2015 on allegations of being a “member of an organization.” Case Summary Hamdullah Aydemir, who has a 92% disability rating, […]