Turkey Weekly 22 – 28 September 2025
Turkey Today – 28.09.2025
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled “violation” in the application regarding the non-delivery of Abdullah Öcalan’s books, the magazine Demokratik Modernite and the newspapers Yeni Yaşam, Atılım, Kızılbayrak and Yüksel to prisons.
Sixteen bar associations issued a statement regarding the penalty imposed on Amedspor, stating, ‘This decision is not only an attack on a sports club but also an attack on the existence of millions of Kurdish citizens.’
Kemal Can, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Can Holding, who was detained as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has been arrested.
Turkey Today – 27.09.2025
Saadet Party MP and commission member Bülent Kaya stated that the commission could refer to Abdullah Öcalan’s statements, adding, ‘In this process, a foreign policy that takes into account the concerns of Kurds living outside Turkey in particular should be put forward.’
The Co-Chairs of the DEM Party stated that the penalty imposed on Amedspor for using a Kurdish slogan was shameful and called on the Turkish Football Federation to immediately reverse this decision.
Saturday Mothers gathered at Galatasaray Square in week 1070 and demanded justice for Abdülmecit Baskın, who was arrested on 30 September 1993 and subsequently killed.
CHP Aksu Mayor İsa Yıldırım resigned from his party and announced he would continue as an independent.
Turkey Today – 26.09.2025
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş responded to journalists’ question, ‘Will the Commission meet with Öcalan?’ by saying, ‘This matter has not yet been placed on the Commission’s agenda.’
Lawyers drew attention to the situation of prisoner Serkan Onur Yılmaz, who has been on hunger strike for 320 days demanding the closure of high-security prisons, emphasising that Yılmaz’s demands must be met.
Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş has applied to the Ministry of Justice for the re-examination of the decisions not to prosecute in 54 investigation files opened against former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek and bureaucrats of the period.
The Council of State granted permission to investigate nine ministry officials in connection with the Grand Kartal Hotel fire. However, the request for permission to investigate Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan was rejected.
The CHP High Disciplinary Board, which convened to discuss numerous expulsion requests, passed a decision to expel six individuals, including Gürsel Tekin and Barış Yarkadaş.
Turkey Today – 25.09.2025
Members of the DEM Party, National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission made a written statement regarding the work carried out by the commission so far and said “Listening to Abdullah Öcalan by the commission should be considered as a necessity for the permanent solution of the problem.”
Another case has been filed against Selahattin Demirtaş, former Co-Chair of the HDP, citing a speech he made at an open-air meeting entitled ‘Peace Against War’ in 2016.
The Diyarbakır and Van Bar Associations announced that they had filed a criminal complaint against the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) for negligence in the investigation into the suspicious death of university student Rojin Kabaiş.
Eğitim Sen stated that, despite 30 months having passed since the earthquakes centred in Mareş, educational inequalities and inadequacies in the region persist.
Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu will appear before a judge tomorrow on charges of ‘attempting to influence expert witnesses and fair trial’ in connection with a press conference he held on 27 January.
President Erdoğan met with President Trump at the White House six years later.
Turkey Today – 24.09.2025
An appeals court has overturned the sentence of nearly 20 years’ imprisonment against the dismissed co-mayor of Hakkari, Mehmet Sıddık Akış (DEM). The judges criticised serious procedural errors, but the politician remains in prison.
The trial of 14 lawyers in Istanbul who faced charges over protests against the appointment of trustees was halted because permission was not obtained from the Ministry of Justice.
A group of DEM Party deputies have brought recent allegations of child suicides in Urfa to parliament agenda. According to the motion, at least 11 children and teenagers have allegedly died by suicide over the past 10 months in Siverek district.
Although the court annulled the election and appointed a trustee, the CHP Istanbul Provincial Organisation went to the polls at an extraordinary congress. Delegates re-elected Özgür Çelik, the sole candidate, as provincial chair.
A YouTube talk show host and his guest have been arrested over a joke during a program which was interpreted as making fun of Islamic narratives.
Turkey Today – 23.09.2025
Thirteen people were detained early today as part of a corruption-related investigation into the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality over concert expenditures between 2021 and 2024.
Executives and a program host from the Tele1 broadcaster were taken to court in İstanbul after prosecutors opened an investigation into a broadcast caption that compared President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court issued a judicial control order against them.
An İstanbul court has ordered access restrictions on two reports published by bianet concerning the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The AKP Istanbul Provincial Directorate announced that it had filed a criminal complaint against CHP chair Özgür Özel.
Following his proposal for an alliance between Turkey, China and Russia, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli has now called for a ‘NATO-like security and defence organisation’ for the Islamic world.
Turkey Today – 22.09.2025
The National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission will continue its hearings with think tanks this week.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced that an investigation had been launched into the channel TELE1 over a subtitle that appeared during a broadcast asking, ‘What is the difference between RTE and Netanyahu?’
A case has been filed against Özcan Pulat, who allegedly threatened journalist Öznur Değer over a news story she wrote and is accused of being the leader of a blackmail gang, on charges of ‘threatening a woman.’
Civil society organisations reacting to the systematic pressure on prisoners in Sincan Wome’s Closed Prison have stressed that disciplinary penalties are not legal but form of pressure and demanded an end to the prevention of the right to release on probation.
…
Turkey Weekly 15 – 21 September 2025
Turkey Today – 21.09.2025
Özgür Özel was re-elected as the Chair of the Republican’s People’s Party’s 22nd Extraordinary Congress.
Ozan Balcı, the Ankara-appointed trustee of Van Metropolitan Municipality, put 100 real estates up for sale in 7 months with an estimated value of 2 billion TL.
Commenting on the decisions of the CoE’s Committee of Ministers meeting on the “right to hope” agenda, Lawyers for Freedom Association Co-chair Serhat Çakmak stated, “Turkey should be sanctioned as it was in Azerbaijan.”
Erdoğan travelled to New York City in the United States to attend the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Erdoğan was welcomed by Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Ambassador to Washington.
Turkey Today – 20.09.2025
Commenting on the Ministers’ Committee’s reference to the parliamentary commission on the issue of the ‘right to hope,’ commission member Meral Danış Beştaş said, ‘The commission should urgently add the “right to hope” to its agenda with interim legislation.’
Saturday Mothers gathered at Galatasaray Square in week 1069 and demanded justice for İbrahim and Edip Çelik, who were lost 31 years ago in Batman by Hizbullah.
A memorial programme was held for Musa Anter, the journalist and writer who was murdered by JİTEM in Amed on 20 September 1992.
MHP MP Feti Yıldız, commenting on the process underway to resolve the Kurdish issue, stated, ‘Certain amendments are required to the Turkish Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Law.’
Turkey Today – 19.09.2025
The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence of two years, seven months and 15 days in prison and a ban on political activity imposed on Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu for allegedly insulting the President of the Supreme Election Board and its members.
CHP leader Özgür Özel claimed that following the alleged meeting between Trump’s son and Erdoğan, Erdoğan promised to purchase 300 Boeing aircraft in order to secure a meeting with Trump.
Turkey’s media regulator has imposed fines on five international streaming platforms and ordered the removal of several films and series, citing violations of “national and moral values.”
The second hearing of the case against Halk TV news anchor Ece Üner, charged with ‘publicly insulting the state’s judicial organs’ and ‘attempting to influence a fair trial,’ was held in Istanbul. The court acquitted her.
The first hearing of the case against Zişan Gür, a reporter for Sendika.Org who was detained while covering protests in Saraçhane, and 65 other individuals, accused of ‘participating in unlawful assemblies and marches without weapons and failing to disperse voluntarily despite warnings,’ was held in Istanbul. The hearing was postponed until February.
Turkey Today – 18.09.2025
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urged Turkey to implement the ECtHR’s rulings on imprisoned politician Selahattin Demirtaş and release him.
Several diplomats have been removed from the US’s Syria team in Istanbul. The changes were justified on the grounds of restructuring.
Ahmet Temiz, whose release was postponed twice by the decision of the Prison Administration and Observation Board, was released from prison after 31 years of imprisonment.
An indictment seeking a prison sentence of between six and 15 years for journalist Furkan Karabay on charges of ‘insulting the President’ has been accepted. It was decided that Karabay would remain in custody.
In the “city settlement” case heard at Istanbul’s 23rd High Criminal Court, Beyoğlu Municipal Advisor İkbal Polat of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) was released, while nine defendants remained in custody.
Turkey Today – 17.09.2025
Asrın Law Office stated that Abdullah Öcalan pointed out the need for legal solutions that would cover the “interim period” laws.
The Ministry of the Interior has removed Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu from office.
Stating that the commission has strong backing, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said, ‘We must act swiftly and establish lasting peace and fraternity as soon as possible, before we are overwhelmed by the heavy burdens of regional and global conditions.’
94 per cent disabled prisoner Emrah Nebioğlu stated that the ATK, which gave him a report stating that he can stay in prison, asked him “Why did you fight against DAESH?”.
Turkey Today – 16.09.2025
Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu and 48 others, including his aides, were transferred to Istanbul Courthouse after undergoing health checks following police procedures.
Books sent to prisoners at Adana Suluca High Security Prison No. 1 are not being delivered on ‘security’ grounds.
The lawyers of detained Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer have once again requested his release.
Journalist Fatoş Erdoğan is facing an investigation for “inciting the public into hatred and enmity” over her reporting and social media posts about the police crackdown at the İstanbul provincial headquarters of the CHP last week.
In the trial against musician Pınar Aydınlar, the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office is seeking acquittal on charges of membership in a terrorist organisation – while at the same time demanding punishment for alleged propaganda.
Turkey Today – 15.09.2025
Asrın Law Office lawyers went to İmralı to meet Abdullah Öcalan. A statement is expected soon.
The fifth hearing in the lawsuit seeking to annul the 2023 congress of the CHP took place today. After reviewing the parties’ requests, the court adjourned the case to 23 October.
President Erdoğan met with Ahmed El Sharar, President of the Syrian Transitional Government, in Qatar.
The National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission will listen to academics and some foundations and associations at its 10th and 11th meetings on 17-18 September.
The Council of Judges and Prosecutors failed to reach an agreement on changes to chief prosecutors in four districts of Istanbul, and the decision was postponed again. Chief prosecutor appointments are expected to be finalised this week.
…
Turkey Weekly 8 – 14 September 2025
Turkey Today – 14.09.2025
Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) member Veysi Eski stated that the state is trying to use the “right to hope” as a trump card and said: “We have come to the last point legally.”
Ahead of the CHP’s Congress trial tomorrow, a ‘Great Ankara’ rally was held in Tandoğan Square with the slogan ‘Against guardianship, for democracy! Against trusteeship and coups, for the will of the people!’
Access to social media posts on the suspicious death of Rojin Kabaiş was banned. The decision was taken at the request of Yüzüncü Yıl University.
Journalists Timur Soykan and Barış Pehlivan were prosecuted on charges of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information to the public.’ The journalists face prison sentences ranging from one year and six months to four years and six months.
Turkey Today – 13.09.2025
Seventy-six bar associations issued a joint statement yesterday regarding lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, who was connected to İmamoğlu’s trial via SEGBIS from the prison where he is being held in order to defend him.
A lawsuit has been filed against Ekrem İmamoğlu, seeking a prison sentence of up to two years and four months on charges of ‘insult’.
Saturday Mothers gathered at Galatasaray Square and demanded answers about the fate of 35-year-old Kenan Bilgin, who was detained in Ankara Dikmen on 12 September 1994 and subsequently disappeared.
Following an investigation into Can Holding, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) appointed a trustee to Istanbul Bilgi University.
Turkey Today – 12.09.2025
MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli has called on political parties take ‘as much responsibility as PKK’ in peace efforts.
Journalist Abdurrahman Gök, who is on trial for “terrorism-related” charges, remains under juridical control measures for two years.
The hospital transfer of the imprisoned patient Yasin Kaya was once again blocked by the gendarmerie, who insisted “remove your shoes and wear slippers”.
Speaking at the 9th meeting of the National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission, business associations and confederations stated that conflict processes were damaging the economy in terms of investment and production.
An appeal was lodged against the decision to continue the detention of Resul Emrah Şahan, the detained Mayor of Şişli.
A court has ordered an access ban on the X account of Grok, the generative AI tool developed by the platform, citing national security and public order concerns, according to Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), a platform monitoring online censorship in Turkey.
Turkey Today – 11.09.2025
İstanbul prosecutors have ordered the appointment of trustee to oversee Can Holding, owner of one of the country’s largest media and education groups, and the seizure of assets belonging to 121 affiliated companies as part of a major financial crimes investigation.
The National Solidarity, Fraternity and Democracy Commission convened for the eighth time.
Ankara 3rd Civil Court of First Instance has rejected the case seeking the annulment of the İstanbul provincial congress of CHP, held in 2023.
One of the last remaining green spaces in the Caferağa neighborhood of İstanbul’s Asian-side district of Kadıköy is facing housing development.Staging a protest, residents emphasized that there is no zoning plan in place.
Turkey Today – 10.09.2025
The march that Eğitim Sen wanted to organise in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin under the slogan ‘We Want Education in Our Mother Tongue’ was banned by the governor’s office.
The second hearing in the trial of Istanbul Bar Association executives has concluded. At the hearing, where the prosecutor requested more time for deliberation, all requests made by the defence lawyers were rejected.
Within the scope of the investigation against Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, 17 of 20 people for whom a detention warrant was issued were detained. A trustee was appointed to Antalya-based “Kanal V” television channel within the scope of the operation.
Following the resignation of Mayor Özlem Vural at Beykoz Municipality, three CHP council members also resigned.
The trial of Deniz Aktaş, co-chair of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed, who was charged with ‘membership of an organisation’, was held in Istanbul. Aktaş was released on bail and placed under house arrest.
Turkey Today – 09.09.2025
The second hearing of the case against Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and members of the bar association’s executive board was held in the courtroom located at the Marmara Prison campus in Silivri. Hearing will continue until tomorrow.
DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan announced that an expanded delegation will visit Abdullah Öcalan next week.
MHP chair Devlet Bahçeli has called on the court to remove the leadership of the CHP in an ongoing case concerning alleged irregularities during the opposition party’s latest congresses.
Six people, including Mustafa Adnan Akyol, President of Yapı Yol-İş, were detained during house raids in Istanbul, Adana and Hatay.
Prisoners held at Kırşehir High Security Prison stated that, as of midnight last night, guardians entered their cells every hour and forced them to roll call. The prisoners requested an emergency committee.
Turkey Today – 08.09.2025
Tensions have remained high since early morning, with protesters trying to enter the CHP building and police responding with tear gas and water cannons. Several people were detained, with some reportedly injured. CHP MP Servet Mullaoğlu, affected by pepper spray, was taken to hospital.
The protests were accompanied by a reduction in internet speed for certain applications. By midnight, users reported disruptions on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
The General Directorate of Security announced that proceedings had been initiated against 39 individuals due to social media posts, and that 10 individuals had been detained.
Enes Hocaoğulları, who was arrested for raising allegations of strip searches during the March protests at the Council of Europe, was released on bail 35 days later.
A 16-year-old indvidual carried out a shotgun attack on a police station in the Balçova district of İzmir leaving two officers killed and two others wounded.
…
Turkey Weekly 1 – 7 September 2025
Turkey Today – 07.09.2025
Istanbul Governorate banned demonstrations and events in Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Eyüpsultan, Kağıthane, Sarıyer and Şişli districts between 7-10 September.
After Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as the trustee of CHP Istanbul Provincial Branch, announced that he would go to the building on Monday, the police closed all the streets leading to the building after the call for gathering on Sunday evening.
DEM Party Istanbul Provincial Organisation and democratic mass organisations organised a march from Yenikapı to Saraçhane Park for education in mother tongue and legal status of Kurdish language.
Former Manavgat Mayor Şükrü Sözen was detained at Sabiha Gökçen Airport while trying to leave the country within the scope of the ‘bribery’ and ‘corruption’ investigation.
Turkey Today – 06.09.2025
Speaking at the workshop on ‘Legal Requirements in the Process of Peace and Democratic Society’, İmralı Delegation member Mithat Sancar, said: ‘Methods should be developed and regulations should be made to solve the problem that led to the conflict.’
The Human Rights Association emphasised that the lives of Veysi Abdurrahmanoğlu, Emin Aladağ and Cihat Özdemir are in danger.
The objection for the release of Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler was accepted by the court. It is stated that police officers went to Köseler’s house and detained him.
Respect for the Dead and Justice Initiative organised a meeting on ‘Respect for the dead and justice in peace building’ in Muş. Lawyer Burcu Çelik said, “Respect for the dead is a matter of law, democracy and peace. Peace and democracy cannot come without respect for the dead.”
Claiming that some groups increased their attacks to slow down the process, President Erdoğan said, “We are very, very well trained this time. We will not fall into the trap that is being set,” he said.
Saturday Mothers gathered at Galatasaray Square in week 1067 and demanded the perpetrators of Ayten Öztürk, who was murdered in detention 33 years ago.
Turkey Today – 05.09.2025
MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız said in a statement that the meeting of 3-4 people to be selected from the parliamentary commission with Abdullah Öcalan ‘would not constitute a weakness’.
Human Rights Association (IHD) Şırnak Branch stated that torture, violation of right to health and ill-treatment against prisoners in Şırnak T Type Closed Prison has become systematic.
Following Hasan Babacan, Müjdat Gürbüz, who was appointed as CHP Istanbul Provincial Board member, also withdrew from the trustee committee.
The Supreme Election Board (YSK) accepted the CHP’s objection to the decisions of district election boards in Istanbul.
Trees are once again being felled in the Karadağ urban forest near Adıyaman – this time with reference to planned road construction work. Part of the forest was already destroyed for housing projects after the 2023 earthquake. Now thousands of trees are at risk of being felled.
Turkey Today – 04.09.2025
Turkish Medical Association President Alpay Azap read out a statement on behalf of health, legal and human rights organisations demanding that the construction of ‘well-type’ prisons should be stopped and the existing ones should be closed, adding that these prisons lead to social isolation and diseases.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has ordered the left-wing daily BirGün’s YouTube channel to apply for a broadcast license within 72 hours of official notification. If the application is not filed, RTÜK said it would request an access ban on the channel.
President Erdoğan visited MHP President Devlet Bahçeli at his residence.
2 of 7 people who were detained in the operation organised against Beşiktaş and Avcılar municipalities were arrested, 5 people were released with a judicial control request.
Arrested Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu applied to the notary for the organisation of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress.
The İstanbul Governor’s Office has canceled a scheduled concert by French-Algerian singer Enrico Macias, citing his public support for Zionism and growing calls for protests against the event.
Turkey Today – 03.09.2025
CHP has expelled long-time member Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed yesterday by a court as interim head of the party’s İstanbul provincial branch.
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan evaluated the dismissal of CHP Istanbul provincial executives as the government making decisions that will help to organise the political scene.
CHP Spokesperson Deniz Yücel described Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç’s statements on the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress and congress cases as ‘an attempt to influence judicial processes’.
CHP filed an appeal to the Istanbul 45th Civil Court of First Instance, which issued the decision to suspend the Istanbul Provincial Administration.
Prisoner Mehmet Emin Vural, who was transferred from Adana F Type Prison to Istanbul Metris R Type Prison in April 2025 for treatment, told his family that he was constantly beaten by the wardens and bruised his foot and hip.
Turkey Today – 02.09.2025
Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç made a statement regarding the appointment of a trustee to replace the CHP Istanbul Provincial Administration: ‘It is a precautionary measure and does not constitute a final judgement.’
Following the dismissal of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Administration, the CHP Central Executive Committee convened at the Headquarters.
In the hearing of the case against 48 members of ÖHD and TUAD in Istanbul, it was decided to continue the trial tomorrow as the defences were not completed.
Access to 29 dating and video chat apps have been blocked upon orders of two courts in Ankara. Turkey Today – 01.09.2025
The area around Tishreen Dam in Northern was bombed last night.
A total of 11 proceedings against CHP Chair Özgür Özel, DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan and 4 MPs were sent to the Grand National Assembly.
The Women’s Rights Centre of the Diyarbakır Bar Association has filed a criminal complaint against Cumhuriyet newspaper. The background to this is an article in which the women’s movement TJA was criminalised and publicly targeted, according to the chamber.
Mehmet Emin Gökdemir of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) stated that constitutional reform alone is not sufficient to recognize Kurdish; restrictive laws such as the Law on Unification of Education must also be amended.