Turkish authorities have blocked access to an investigative report, podcast and social media posts about former health minister Fahrettin Koca and the Medipol healthcare and education group he founded, on national security and public order grounds, days after a court rejected a request to restrict the same content. The restrictions target an investigative report by […] The post Turkey blocks reports on former health minister on national security grounds after court rejects access ban appeared...

The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) has condemned restrictions on reporters covering the trial of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and accused the Health Ministry of excluding critical news outlets from a meeting with the minister, calling the measures discriminatory and an infringement on press freedom. According to the ANKA news agency the TGC said reporters […] The post Turkish journalists group condemns restrictions at İmamoğlu trial, Health Ministry event appeared first on Stoc...

A Turkish court on Friday released pop singer and songwriter Mabel Matiz under a travel ban after police detained him in an obscenity probe into the lyrics and video for his new song, “Ha Leylim,” Turkish Minute reported. Matiz, 40, whose real name is Fatih Karaca, went to an İstanbul courthouse with his lawyers after […] The post Turkey releases singer under travel ban in obscenity probe appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

China’s growing influence in Turkey’s media landscape is making it increasingly difficult for Uyghur journalists and activists to draw attention to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a new report. The press freedom group said Beijing has expanded its media presence in Turkey through state-run outlets, partnerships with major Turkish […] The post China’s growing media influence is silencing Uyghur voices in Turkey: RSF appeared first on Stockholm Center fo...

Turkish filmmakers have accused the Culture and Tourism Ministry of censorship after it demanded that director Bingöl Elmas repay with interest government funding awarded to her documentary, the Evrensel daily reported. The repayment demand prompted a group of film industry organizations, directors, producers, actors and film critics to issue a joint statement accusing the ministry […] The post Turkish filmmakers accuse culture ministry of censorship over documentary funding repayment appeare...

A young Syrian man died of a brain hemorrhage on Sunday after relatives found him seriously injured outside an İstanbul hospital where they say he had remained for two days after being taken there following a traffic accident, the Evrensel daily reported. Bashar Al Tawil, 22, was taken by ambulance to the hospital after being […] The post Negligence alleged in death of young Syrian found injured outside Turkish hospital appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A 4-year-old Yazidi boy with severe epilepsy is being held with his mother and sibling at a deportation center in İzmir, where his medication has run out and the family has faced difficulties obtaining a new supply, the Mezopotamya news agency (MA) reported. Alveer Rasho was traveling with his parents when they were detained in İzmir […] The post 4-year-old Yazidi boy with severe epilepsy held in Turkish deportation center appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish authorities on Saturday blocked the social media accounts of several Kurdish news outlets and a Kurdish journalist in the latest restrictions targeting Kurdish media, the ETHA news agency reported. The Turkish-language X account of JINNEWS, a women-focused pro-Kurdish news agency, was blocked for the eighth time, while the X accounts of the Etkin News […] The post Turkey blocks social media accounts of Kurdish news outlets, journalist appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

An İstanbul court has arrested retired admiral Türker Ertürk and jailed him pending trial over remarks from 2023 in which he said the government would change “painfully or painlessly,” one day after police detained him when the old video resurfaced on social media, BBC Turkish reported. Ertürk was detained on Monday as part of an investigation by […] The post Retired admiral jailed pending trial over 2023 government change remarks appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A Turkish court has arrested Alihan Kuriş, leader of the religious community commonly known as the Süleymancılar and 31 other suspects pending trial in an investigation into alleged money laundering, fraud and tax offenses, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Sunday that all 38 suspects brought before prosecutors had […] The post Leader of Turkey’s Süleymancılar religious group arrested in financial crimes investigation appeared firs...

Turkish police detained retired admiral Türker Ertürk on Monday over a social media video in which he said the government would change “painfully or painlessly,” prompting an investigation into alleged threats intended to cause public fear and incitement to commit a crime. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in İstanbul opened the investigation on its […] The post Retired Turkish admiral detained over remarks evoking coup-era rhetoric appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A German activist has said she was raped by a Turkish official and subjected to other forms of abuse at a removal center in İstanbul in January after being detained with a group that had traveled to southeastern Turkey in solidarity with Syrian Kurds, the Bianet news website reported. Paula Maier described the alleged abuse […] The post German activist alleges rape by Turkish official at İstanbul removal center appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

The ongoing peace process aimed at ending Turkey’s decades-long conflict with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) did not eliminate the risk of torture for a Kurdish asylum seeker, a German court has found, leading German authorities to withdraw their decision lifting a ban on his deportation. According to the Bianet news website, the case […] The post Turkey’s peace process has not eliminated risk of torture for Kurdish asylum seeker, German court finds appeared first on Stockholm Ce...

Turkish prosecutors have launched an obscenity investigation into pop singer and songwriter Mabel Matiz over the lyrics and music video for one of his songs, three months after he was acquitted of the same charge in a separate case, the T24 news website reported on Thursday. The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the investigation […] The post Turkish singer Mabel Matiz faces new obscenity investigation over song, music video appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A Turkish opposition lawmaker has raised concerns about a former teacher and mother of four imprisoned on terrorism charges over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, drawing attention to her separation from her children and poor prison conditions, the TR724 news website reported.   Hacer Kılıç is being held in Aksaray Prison, where her […] The post Opposition lawmaker raises concerns over mother of 4 jailed on conviction of alleged Gülen links appeared first on Stockholm Center fo...

Fifty-two police officers in Turkey died by suicide in the first seven months of 2026, amid persistent concerns over long working hours, workplace harassment, financial difficulties and psychological stress within the country’s police force, according to the Police Suicide Memorial platform. The figure amounts to roughly one police suicide every four days, indicating a continued increase in […] The post 52 police officers died by suicide in Turkey in first 7 months of 2026 appeared first on S...

A cancer patient imprisoned over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement has gone five months without treatment, while delays in a medical assessment have held up the process required for the suspension of his sentence on grounds of health, the TR724 news website reported. İbrahim Halil Al, who is being held in Edirne Prison, […] The post Cancer patient imprisoned over Gülen links goes 5 months without treatment appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish lawmakers on Monday began debating a bill that would suspend prosecutions and prison sentences for some members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who lay down their weapons, marking the first legislative step in a process aimed at ending more than four decades of conflict. The bill was expected to pass later Monday. […] The post Turkish lawmakers debate first bill in Kurdish peace process appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkey’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a university violated a transgender man’s right to privacy by refusing to reissue his diploma with his updated name and gender, the Bianet news website reported. The court found by a majority vote that the refusal violated the right of the applicant, identified only by the initials E.D., to […] The post Turkey’s top court finds privacy violation in refusal to update trans man’s diploma appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish authorities detained 15 people on Friday in a third phase of a corruption investigation targeting the opposition-run Kuşadası Municipality, while prosecutors issued detention warrants for 21 suspects, including the daughter and son-in-law of New Party MP Bülent Tezcan, Turkish Minute reported. The operation, carried out simultaneously in Aydın, İzmir and Antalya provinces, is part […] The post 15 detained in probe targeting opposition municipality, New Party MP’s relatives among those...

A Turkish court has jailed outspoken Islamic cleric Alparslan Kuytul, his wife, Semra and 33 others pending trial in a financial crimes investigation targeting the Furkan religious movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The arrests followed coordinated raids on 49 locations across six provinces last week as part of the investigation led by the […] The post Turkey jails anti-gov’t preacher, wife and 33 others in financial crimes probe appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has revealed details of five properties confiscated from journalist living in exile Can Dündar, including their locations, rental income and management under a court-ordered trusteeship, Turkish media reported on Monday. The properties are located in İstanbul’s Üsküdar district, the southwestern resort town of Bodrum and the capital of Ankara, […] The post Turkish state fund reveals details of Can Dündar’s confiscated properties appeared first on...

Turkish authorities have blocked access to the X accounts of journalist Fırat Fıstık, social media commentator Nasuh Bektaş and the Kurdish-focused Mezopotamya news agency (MA), citing national security and public order, according to a group that monitors internet censorship in Turkey. The Freedom of Expression Association’s (IFÖD) EngelliWeb project said online that the restrictions were […] The post Turkey blocks X accounts of journalist, commentator and Kurdish-focused news agency appeared...

A Turkish lawyers’ association says people jailed following a wave of arrests ahead of NATO’s July summit in Ankara have been beaten, kept apart from other prisoners for extended periods and denied adequate access to outdoor exercise, water and other basic needs, and that it will file criminal complaints against prison officials over the alleged […] The post Turkish lawyers allege torture, harsh confinement of detainees jailed before NATO summit appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin said on Wednesday that an investigation into alleged discrimination against a transgender teacher at a private school in İstanbul was still ongoing. Tekin was responding to questions from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker Özgül Saki about the case of Zoe Lila, an English teacher who said the […] The post Turkish minister says probe into alleged discrimination against transgender teacher is ongoing appeared first on Stockholm Cent...

Turkish police on Wednesday detained outspoken Islamic cleric Alparslan Kuytul, his wife, Semra, and other members of the Furkan Foundation in coordinated raids across six provinces, one day after a senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly warned that Kuytul would be targeted next. Counterterrorism police searched 49 locations as part of an investigation […] The post Turkey detains anti-gov’t Islamic preacher, wife in morning raids appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish gendarmes briefly detained four villagers on Tuesday during a protest against a commercial fish farming project that residents say threatens their traditional fishing grounds in the Black Sea province of Rize, Turkish media reported. The detentions took place in the fishing village of Zelek in the Pazar district, where residents have been holding a […] The post Turkish gendarmes briefly detain 4 villagers protesting fish farming project in Black Sea appeared first on Stockholm Center ...

Turkey’s Education Ministry has begun inspecting Armenian minority schools over their admission of students from Armenia, according to a report by Agos. Ministry inspectors reportedly told school administrators that Armenian citizens could no longer be admitted as guest students and should instead continue their education at state schools. The inspectors also reportedly arrived with lists of Armenian […] The post Turkey probes Armenian schools over student admissions appeared first on Stockho...

Turkish journalist Haşim Söylemez, who was sentenced to more than six years in prison over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement following a coup attempt in 2016, died of brain cancer in Bursa on Saturday, the International Journalists Association reported. Söylemez, who had been released shortly after his detention in 2016 due to a […] The post Turkish journalist sentenced to prison over alleged Gülen links dies of cancer appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A former sewing and embroidery teacher dismissed by an emergency decree following a 2016 coup attempt over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement was arrested in Edirne on Friday on terrorism-related accusations, the TR724 news website reported. Fatma Aşık was allegedly attempting to flee to Greece when she was detained. A court subsequently ordered […] The post Turkey arrests former teacher on terrorism-related accusations stemming from alleged Gülen links appeared first on Stockhol...

Turkish police on Friday raided an İstanbul dormitory run by a religious group known as “Süleymancılar” and who identify themselves as “Süleymanlılar,” which has been targeted for months by politicians and media figures close to the government, a day after the launch of an Ankara-based investigation into the same group that led to the detention […] The post Turkish police raid religious group’s main dormitory in İstanbul appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

At least 214 workers died in occupational accidents in Turkey in July, bringing the death toll in the first seven months of 2026 to 1,279, according to a monthly report by the Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG), an independent workplace safety watchdog. Twelve minors, 11 women and 14 migrants were among those killed during […] The post Fatal workplace accidents claim at least 214 in Turkey in July: report appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish police on Thursday detained 30 people during raids conducted in 17 provinces against a religious group known as “Süleymancılar” and who identify themselves as “Süleymanlılar,” which has been targeted for months by politicians and media figures close to the government. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said three people being sought were abroad and 10 others […] The post Turkey detains 30 in raids targeting religious group that has been in crosshairs of pro-gov’t circles appeared first ...

Limited fundingand the failure of public institutions to provide adequate support are making it increasingly difficult for women in Turkey to escape domestic violence, women’s rights groups have said, the Bianet news website reported. The groups said a shrinking civic space and growing funding constraints have weakened organizations supporting women subjected to domestic violence. They […] The post Funding shortages, inadequate support hinder women seeking to escape domestic violence in Turke...

A man has been arrested for removing and damaging a banner featuring President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the northern Turkish province of Zonguldak, the İhlas News Agency (İHA) reported on Wednesday. The banner had been hung by municipal workers on a pedestrian overpass along the Ankara-Zonguldak highway in the Devrek district. The man, identified only […] The post Man arrested for removing, damaging Erdoğan banner in northern Turkey appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkey’s prison population has reached 433,520, exceeding the official capacity by 128,564 and pushing occupancy to about 142 percent, according to Justice Ministry data.   The prison population fell to 402,012 in January after a judicial reform package, approved by parliament in December, led to the early release of roughly 50,000 inmates. It has since […] The post Turkey’s prison population hits 433,520, exceeding capacity by nearly 129,000 appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Miners from silver producer Eti Gümüş and coal-mining company Doruk Mining were detained in Ankara on Monday while protesting unpaid wages, severance claims and unpaid leave outside Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, the Bianet news website reported. Both businesses are affiliated with the Yıldızlar SSS Holding. The workers, who are members of the Independent […] The post Scores of miners detained while protesting unpaid wages outside Turkey’s energy ministry appeared first on St...

A Turkish court on Saturday jailed pending trial İlksen Özalper, the opposition New Party’s provincial chair in Western Manisa province, on bribery and organized crime charges, marking the first such action against one of the party’s provincial leaders since it was founded in July. Özalper was detained at her home in Manisa on August 5, […] The post Turkey jails New Party’s provincial chair in bribery probe appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkey’s Constitutional Court found that the right to freedom of expression had been violated in 76 cases during the first half of 2026, according to newly released court statistics, adding to a growing number of rulings on free speech in the country, Turkish Minute reported. The court received 29,605 individual applications between January and June and […] The post Turkey’s top court finds 76 free speech violations in six months appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkey’s justice ministry is deploying artificial intelligence to scrutinize legal documents for associations with groups designated as terrorists by Ankara, a practice that experts fear will reinforce the judiciary’s documented pattern of serious rights violations, Turkish Minute reported. The ministry refers to this initiative as the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Organization Prediction Project. Created by […] The post Turkish government using AI tool to predict alleged ‘terrorist group’...

More than 70 Kurdish seasonal farmworkers and their family members were targeted in Zonguldak over the course of two days, while another group was threatened in neighboring Düzce, prompting calls from rights groups and opposition politicians for investigations into whether the incidents were ethnically motivated, Turkish media reported. The first incident took place on Friday […] The post Kurdish seasonal workers targeted, threatened in 2 incidents in northwest Turkey appeared first on Stockh...

Turkish police on Friday detained a second lawyer representing Islamic preacher and government critic Alparslan Kuytul as part of a growing investigation that has resulted in 62 detentions, the TR724 news website reported. Lawyer Alişan İnci was among those detained, two days after Bilal İpek, another of Kuytul’s lawyers, was taken into custody in the […] The post Turkish police detain second lawyer for Islamic preacher critical of gov’t as investigation expands appeared first on Stockholm Ce...

Turkish courts have blocked access to at least 12 X posts by artificial intelligence chatbot Grok since February 2025 on national security and public order grounds, according to an analysis by the Expression Interrupted press freedom monitoring platform. The blocked posts concerned allegations involving government officials, politicians and public institutions, including claims of favoritism in […] The post Turkey blocks at least 12 Grok posts on national security grounds appeared first on St...

A Turkish nurse who was acquitted of terrorism-related charges over a video showing her braiding her hair in solidarity with a Kurdish woman killed in Syria said Thursday she had been dismissed from her public sector job, the Sözcü daily reported. İkra Avcı announced the decision Thursday on social media while outside Turkey’s Health Ministry […] The post Turkish nurse says she was fired after hair-braiding protest over killing of Kurdish woman in Syria appeared first on Stockholm Center for ...

Turkey’s Constitutional Court has ruled that preventing an inmate from giving a visitor a handmade bracelet in the traditional Kurdish colors violated his right to freedom of expression, the ANKA news agency reported. Tufan İlbaş, an inmate at Tekirdağ High Security Prison, had been granted permission in June 2022 to make handicrafts with beads in […] The post Turkey’s top court finds rights violation in prison ban on bracelet in traditional Kurdish colors appeared first on Stockholm Center f...

Turkish police early Wednesday removed relatives of conscripts killed in service and veterans who had been conscripted into military service from Ankara’s Güvenpark, ending a 38-day sit-in over unequal pensions and benefits based on military rank and service status. Police arrived at the park at around 4:45 a.m. and removed the protesters, who had come […] The post Police force conscript veterans, fallen conscripts’ relatives from Ankara park appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A law allowing some members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and people prosecuted or convicted of PKK-related crimes to have their cases or sentences suspended took effect in Turkey on Tuesday following its publication in the Official Gazette. The legislation is the most concrete legal step yet in a peace initiative launched in […] The post Turkey’s landmark PKK peace process law takes effect after publication in Official Gazette appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A Turkish court has reduced the prison sentence of a police officer with the presidential protection department who seriously injured his wife’s face after she filed for divorce, the BirGün daily reported. The Ankara 33rd High Criminal Court initially sentenced Yasin Çakmak to seven-and-a-half years in prison for intentionally injuring his wife, Fatma Çakmak, but […] The post Turkish court reduces sentence of police officer who attacked and injured wife appeared first on Stockholm Center for ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in an interview aired Sunday that European Union membership was no longer a priority for Ankara, signaling a retreat from a goal that shaped the early years of his government and that he called strategic as recently as 2024. “Europe has not admitted Turkey for 53 years and does […] The post Erdoğan says EU membership is not a priority for Turkey appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for international solidarity with Doğan Ertuğrul, a Turkish journalist living in exile, after Turkey froze his assets over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement, pointing to the case as an example of the country’s transnational repression of critical journalists abroad. In a statement on Friday, RSF Austria called […] The post RSF calls for solidarity with journalist in exile targeted by Turkey over alleged Gülen links appeared first on Sto...

Turkish authorities have accused an activist of membership in a terrorist organization over a banner and her remarks at an anti-poverty protest during a NATO summit in Ankara in July, the Sendika.Org news website reported. Leylanur Mavili, a member of the left-wing People’s Houses Association, was detained on Monday in an investigation in which a […] The post Turkish activist faces terrorism-related accusation over anti-poverty protest during NATO summit appeared first on Stockholm Center for...

Turkey’s broadcasting regulator issued 41 sanctions due to broadcast content in the first six months of 2026, including 39 fines totaling about $2.3 million and two warnings, the ANKA news agency reported on Friday, citing a member of the regulator. Tuncay Keser, a member of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), said 30 of […] The post Turkey’s media regulator imposes $2.3 mln in fines in first half of 2026 appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

A Paris-based Kurdish singer who was detained after returning to Turkey for the first time in 11 years on terrorism-related accusations over her artistic and cultural work at a Kurdish cultural center in 2014 was released under judicial supervision on Thursday, the Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) reported. Nuarîn was detained on Monday at Çukurova International […] The post Kurdish singer detained in Turkey over cultural activities released under judicial supervision appeared first on Stockholm ...

The Ankara Governor’s Office has imposed a 15-day ban on demonstrations and public gatherings across the Turkish capital as mine workers, veterans and relatives of fallen soldiers continue protests over longstanding demands, Turkish media reported. The ban, which took effect on Sunday, prohibits demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, press statements and other forms of public protest in […] The post Ankara imposes 15-day protest ban as workers, veterans press rights claims appeared first on Stockh...

Turkey’s Constitutional Court has rejected a challenge on grounds of equality to a provision putting married women in their husbands’ family registries, a rule long criticized as gender discrimination, the Yeni Özgür Politika news website reported. The case was referred to the Constitutional Court by the İstanbul 14th Civil Court of First Instance, which sought […] The post Turkey’s Constitutional Court rejects challenge seeking independent civil registry records for married women appeared fi...

Turkish authorities on Tuesday launched operations to detain 49 people accused of using automated software to obtain visa appointments in bulk and charging applicants large fees for appointments and related services, local media reported, citing Justice Minister Akın Gürlek. The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating individuals and companies operating as visa consultancies over […] The post Turkey orders detention of 49 over alleged sale of visa appointments on black mark...

Human rights groups have called on Turkish authorities to remedy continuing rights violations caused by emergency decrees issued after a 2016 coup attempt, saying their consequences for dismissed public servants and their families persist a decade later. The Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Union of Platforms for Those Dismissed with Emergency Decrees said in […] The post Rights groups urge Turkey to address decade-long impact of post-coup emergency decrees appeared first on Stockholm C...

The UN Committee Against Torture has asked Turkey to respond within six months to a complaint by Aysun Işınkaralar, who says she was tortured in police custody after being detained over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement. The TR724 news website reported that a complaint filed by Işınkaralar on July 23, 2023, was sent […] The post UN torture committee asks Turkey to respond to complaint by woman detained over Gülen links appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Twenty-five women were killed by men in Turkey in July and 31 others died under suspicious circumstances, according to a monthly report by the We Will Stop Femicide Platform (KCDP). Eleven of the women were killed by their husbands, three by current partners, two by former husbands, two by former partners, two by relatives and […] The post 25 women killed by men, 31 died under suspicious circumstances in Turkey in July appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.

Turkish authorities blocked access to at least 659 online accounts, posts, mobile applications and websites related to İstanbul Pride events and protests against a NATO summit in Ankara, according to an analysis by the Expression Interrupted press freedom monitoring platform. Of the restricted items 339 were related to İstanbul Pride events held in June and […] The post Turkey blocked access to at least 659 online items linked to Pride events, NATO protests appeared first on Stockholm Center ...