Turkey Weekly 2 – 8 February 2026
Turkey Today – 08.02.2026
Istanbul Bar Association Vice President Attorney Rukiye Leyla Süren stated that the biggest obstacles to clarifying suspicious female deaths begin during the investigation process.
Feti Yıldız, a member of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), stated on social media that the Peace and Democratic Society Process is ‘a matter of state that is not open to debate, cannot be postponed and is irreversible’.
Keçiören Mayor Dr Mesut Özarslan, who was rumoured to be joining the AKP, announced his resignation from the CHP. Özarslan claimed that Özgür Özel had insulted him as the reason for his resignation.
Bilal Balcı, the defendant in the İsias Hotel case who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and banned from leaving the country, requested that the ban be lifted on the grounds that he wished to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Turkey Today – 07.02.2026
Human rights organisations have spoken out on behalf of 16-year-old A.K., who was arrested for sharing a hair braiding video, stating that ‘the decision directly threatens the child’s psychological integrity and future.’
The dismissed Mayor of Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Zeydan Karalar, said regarding the process of reinstating him to his position, ‘Mayors facing the same charges as me are still in office. Why shouldn’t Zeydan Karalar return to his position?’
At their 1089th vigil, the Saturday Mothers in Istanbul addressed the fate of Mehmet Şirin Maltu. The 17-year-old was abducted by the Turkish gendarmerie in Êlih in 1995. Since then, there has been no trace of him.
DEM Party MP Ayten Kordu submitted a motion for an inquiry into the 6 February earthquakes, stating that fundamental problems such as housing, the economy, justice and missing citizens remain unresolved in the earthquake zone despite three years having passed.
Twelve of the 13 suspects detained in an operation targeting ISIS in three provinces centred on Kırşehir have been arrested.
Turkey Today – 06.02.2026
DEM Party MPs submitted a report on human rights violations related to police interventions in the Syrian protests to parliament. The report highlighted excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests and detentions.
According to a statement by Eğitim Sen, despite three years having passed since the earthquakes of 6 February 2023,
container classrooms continue in the earthquake zone, school dropouts are increasing, and teachers are unable to find accommodation.
According to the earthquake report by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the Health and Social Services Workers’ Union (SES), three years after 6 February, housing and health problems persist while psychosocial devastation deepens.
The AKP Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, based in Diyarbakır, met with representatives of mass organisations in the city. The meeting discussed the process and the situation in Syria.
Forty more people detained in operations targeting the ESP were brought before the court today. Twenty-four of the 40 were arrested. Six people detained in Malatya and Antep were also arrested.
The first hearing in the case against Şiar Rişvanoğlu, charged with ‘membership of an armed terrorist organisation’, was held in Adana. The court decided to lift the judicial control conditions. Trial adjourned until February.
Turkey Today – 05.02.2026
Despite the agreement reached between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Interim Government of Damascus, the siege continues on its 17th day in Kobanê, where more than 500,000 people live, including refugees.
When journalists asked about Devlet Bahçeli’s statement on the “right to hope”, AKP deputy chairman Mustafa Elitaş said, ‘This matter is being assessed by our colleagues on the committee.’
Forty people, including Co-Chair Murat Çepni, who was detained in operations targeting the ESP, were arrested.
The Turkish, Kurdish and English X accounts of the Mezopotamya Agency have been blocked four times by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority in the last month.
Twenty-five people were detained on bribery charges as part of an investigation conducted by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into the Buca Municipality.
The ninth hearing in the case against journalist Sedef Kabaş, filed over 25 social media posts on charges of “insulting the President,” was held in Istanbul. Trial adjourned until May.
The first hearing in the “boycott call” case, in which 21 defendants — including actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu and social media influencers — are facing up to 7 years and 6 months in prison, could not be held today. The judge stated that he was ill and said the courtroom was physically inadequate.
Turkey Today – 04.02.2026
Humanitarion aid collected for Kobane returned to Diyarbakır five days later after no passage permit was granted.
Rezan Sarıca, one of the lawyers from Asrın Law Office, stated that the right to hope must be implemented for Abdullah Öcalan without delay.
MHP Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız stated, ‘The courts decide on Demirtaş’s release. We must comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court.’ Following the meeting, Yıldız announced, ‘We have reached an agreement on the Right to Hope.’
The group proposal submitted by the DEM Party to investigate all the consequences of the 6 February earthquake was rejected by the votes of the AKP-MHP.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has filed a public lawsuit against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Necati Özkan, Hüseyin Gün and Merdan Yanardağ on charges of ‘political espionage’ as part of its investigation.
President Erdoğan emphasised ‘stability’ for Syria and Gaza during his meeting with President Sisi in Egypt. He signed military and economic agreements during the visit.
The fourth hearing in the trial of 9 activists who protested trade with Israel during a speech by President Erdoğan was held in Istanbul. Trial adjourned until June.
Turkey Today – 03.02.2026
During the operation conducted against ESP, the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations, the Socialist Women’s Councils, the Limter-İş Trade Union, Polen Ecology, BEKSAV and various other organisations, numerous individuals were detained.
During house raids in Istanbul, Etkin Haber Ajansı (ETHA) reporters Pınar Gayıp, Nadire Gürbüz, Müslüm Koyun and Züleyha Müldür were detained. All equipment was confiscated during the raid on the agency.
Five of the 16 youths detained three days ago in Van have been arrested.
The Co-Chairs of the DEM Party visited the Future Party Headquarters to discuss the Rojava agenda.
A new investigation has been launched into journalist Öznur Değer for taking and sharing a photograph of police using violence against a crowd, including journalists, during a march for Rojava in Van on 29 January.
Turkey Today – 02.02.2026
Speaking after the cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan targeted the opposition on the issue of Syria, stating, ‘Whoever attempts to undermine peace will be crushed.’
The agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus entered practical implementation today.
The city of Kobanê, home to 600 thousand people, has been under heavy siege since 20 January. Health officials are concerned that major health problems will arise if medicines are not supplied.
Police attacked citizens who gathered in Muş in support of Rojava. Two people were detained in the attack.
Applications made to ensure that staff salaries could be paid in companies under receivership were rejected by the court hearing the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality case.
The Çukurova Teaching Staff Association stated that YÖK President Erol Özvar’s plan to shorten the duration of undergraduate degrees and involve businesses in education would undermine scientific rigour, university autonomy and academic freedom.
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Turkey Weekly 1 February 2026
Turkey Today – 01.02.2026
The 25 lorries of aid collected for Kobanê have been held up for three days.
Police assaulted journalists who wanted to cover the Ankara Democratic Institutions Platform’s march on 1 February, World Rojava Solidarity Day.
A statement of solidarity with Rojava was made in İstanbul’s Kadıköy district. As the crowd dispersed after the statement, six young people were detained.
Following a march in support of Rojava attended by thousands in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin, police attacked young people, beating and arresting many of them.
On 1 February, tens of thousands of people took part in a march organised in Diyarbakır as part of World Rojava Solidarity Day.