Syrian businesses and homes attacked in central Turkey amid increasing anti-migrant sentiment
A group of locals attacked the houses, workplaces and cars of Syrian refugees in the central Turkish province of Kayseri on Sunday evening in...
Erdoğan targets LGBT, describes its influence as ‘tyranny’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan renewed his verbal attacks on the LGBT community on Tuesday, labeling its influence as a form of "tyranny that...
Governor’s office requests statement from anti-refugee mayor over alleged discrimination
The governor’s office of the western Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar has requested a written statement from the Afyonkarahisar mayor, known for her anti-refugee views, over...
Turkey’s Constitutional Court rules in favor of LGBT activist in landmark hate speech case
Turkey's Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of LGBT activist Efruz Kaya, declaring that a lower court’s refusal to block homophobic content targeting her...
Turkey ranked among most repressive in LGBT rights index
Turkey received one of the worst scores in Europe in the 2024 edition of the Rainbow Index released by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,...
Somali restaurant owner’s harassment by Turkish police was racially motivated: court
A court in Ankara has ruled that Turkish police discriminated against a Somali restaurant owner, recognizing a racial bias in the enforcement of measures...
Controversial mayor vows ‘astronomical increase’ in bus fares for foreign students in Bolu
A controversial mayor from Turkey’s main opposition party who is known for his anti-refugee discourse has promised “an astronomical increase” in bus fares for...
8 detained for hate speech targeting African students at northern Turkey university
Turkish police have detained eight suspects for allegedly using hate speech in social media posts against African students at a university in northwestern Turkey...
Pro-Kurdish candidate fights anti-migrant sentiment in local Turkish elections
A pro-Kurdish candidate who lost his arm in prison during a police raid after a hunger strike in 2000 has turned three decades of...
CHP mayoral candidate sparks indignation with ‘racist’ remarks targeting Kurds
Controversial remarks from a mayoral candidate and senior executive of Turkey’s main opposition party targeting a pro-Kurdish party have caused anger, disappointment and frustration...
Latest Reports
Women’s rights in Turkey: 2025 in Review
The state of women’s rights in Turkey showed no meaningful improvement in 2025, as longstanding problems persisted and new challenges emerged. Femicides, institutional failures...
Weaponized Diplomacy: How Erdoğan Uses Turkish Missions for Transnational Repression
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This report reveals how the Turkish government has transformed its embassies and consulates into instruments of repression over the past decade. Once seen...
The Forgotten Victims: Children of Turkey’s Post-Coup Purge
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This report examines how children from families targeted in Turkey’s unprecedented post-coup purge have endured the devastating consequences of persecution, social exclusion and...
Human Rights in Turkey: 2024 in Review
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This report highlights the most important developments in the area of human rights in Turkey during the year 2024.
Throughout the year Turkey continued...
Dehumanizing a Legacy: How Fethullah Gülen’s Death Triggered a Campaign of Hate Speech in...
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This report examines the surge of hate speech following the death of Fethullah Gülen, a US-based cleric whose followers have been systematically persecuted...
Family Punishment in Turkey: How Erdoğan Uses the Nazi Practice of Sippenhaft
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This report focuses on how the Turkish government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has used family punishment against his opponents.
Sippenhaft, also known as...
Human Rights in Turkey: 2023 in Review
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This report highlights the most important developments in the area of human rights in Turkey during the year 2023.
The May 2023 re-election of...
Hate speech and hate crimes against Syrian refugees in Turkey
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This report focuses on the inflammatory rhetoric and illegal acts motivated by prejudice faced by refugees who fled the civil war in Syria...