Critically Ill Prisoners in Turkish Prisons, Violations of Probation and Conditional Release Rights – Resul Baltacı
Profile VICTIM : Resul BaltacıINCIDENT : A seriously ill prisoner has not been released from prison for three years despite having completed his sentence.LOCATION : Düzce, TürkiyeSITUATION : He was sentenced to life imprisonment on the charge of “undermining the unity and integrity of the country.” Case Summary Resul Baltacı, who is being held in […]
Freedom of Expression and Its Restrictions in Turkey
İrem Seçkin * Introduction Freedom of expression is considered one of the fundamental pillars of democracy. For societies to progress, for diverse ideas to interact, and for those in power to remain accountable, individuals must be able to express their thoughts without fear. In Turkey, however, there has been a noticeable trend of shrinking space […]
Government Crackdown on the main opposition party CHP
Download PDF This report documents the Turkish government’s systematic crackdown on the Republican People’s Party (CHP), detailing how elected mayors, party officials, journalists, protesters, and civil society actors have been targeted through politically motivated prosecutions, mass arrests, trustee appointments, censorship, and police violence following the opposition’s electoral victories, revealing a deliberate strategy to dismantle democratic […]
When Rule of Law Erodes: The Inevitable Breach of Article 6 ECHR
Download PDF This report analyzes how systemic deficiencies in Turkey’s judiciary have led to persistent violations of the right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Drawing on landmark ECtHR judgments—including Yüksel Yalçınkaya, Demirhan, Yıldırım, Şimşek, and Akarsu—the report documents how courts rely on flawed or undisclosed evidence, […]
Government Crackdown on the main opposition party- CHP
A detailed chronology of events between late 2024 and 2025 documenting the crackdown on Turkey’s main opposition party and President Erdoğan’s top rival Table of Contents Download PDF Executive Summary Over the past year, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government has launched an unprecedented crackdown on Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Dozens […]
Illegalities in the Prevention of Terrorism Financing Investigations in Turkey
Download PDF Also available in: TR This report examines how Turkey’s counter-terrorism financing legislation has been systematically misused as a political tool to suppress dissent rather than to combat terrorism. Drawing on international legal standards, ECtHR judgments, and UN findings, it documents how vague definitions of terrorism have enabled arbitrary prosecutions and economic confiscations, targeting journalists, […]
Sick Inmate Who Died in Prison: İbrahim Güngör
Profile VICTIM : İbrahim Güngör INCIDENT : A critically ill prisoner died in hospital after his health deteriorated in prison. LOCATION : İzmir, Turkey SITUATION : Sentenced to 8 years and 1 month in prison on alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement. Case Summary Ibrahim Güngör, a 72-year-old prisoner held in Menemen R-Type Prison, was […]
Rights Violations in Conditional Release and Probation Practices
Profile VICTIM : Prisoners at Karabük Penal Institution whose releases were arbitrarily postponed.INCIDENT : Systematic pressure, arbitrary disciplinary sanctions, and unlawful postponements of release are being reported in the prison.LOCATION : Karabük, TurkeySITUATION : The conditional release of 14 political prisoners was denied based on arbitrary and non-transparent criteria. Case Summary At Karabük Type T […]
Turkish Journalist Ufuk Şanlı Launches Hunger Strike Over ‘Unlawful’ Prosecution
Turkish journalist Ufuk Şanlı has launched a hunger strike to protest what he calls “unlawful practices” by prosecutors. Şanlı, who was arrested on 11 July on allegations of acting as an informant for exiled investigative journalist Cevheri Güven, said he would continue his protest until an indictment is prepared. The former Zaman reporter previously served […]
Baby Born in Hospital While Mother Held Under Custody
Merve Zayım, a teacher sentenced to 6 years and 3 months on charges the European Court of Human Rights has deemed unlawful in its Yalçınkaya v. Türkiye judgment, gave birth today after being taken from Edirne L-Type Prison to hospital under guard. Zayım, 8.5 months pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy, had been detained since July […]
