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...
Authorities evict trans women in İstanbul
The governor of İstanbul’s Beyoğlu district has ordered the eviction of a group of trans women from their apartments on the grounds that they...
Turkish pro-gov’t newspaper targets Gülen-linked charity in Germany
Daily Sabah, an English-language daily managed by family members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has targeted a Germany-based charity group, accusing of “financing...
CHP mayoral candidate draws ire with discriminatory remarks toward refugee children
A candidate for mayor of a district in Ankara from the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) has attracted criticism for discriminatory remarks he...
International students in Turkey report racism and discrimination
International students studying at Turkish universities say they often experience racism and discrimination, the Bianet news website reported.
Students coming from countries such as Pakistan...
Minority and Refugee Rights: 2023 in Review
Minority groups in Turkey suffered discrimination, hate speech and assaults, while a climate of impunity emboldened the offenders.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his far-right ally...
Latest Reports
New report exposes widespread, systematic rights violations in Turkey’s crackdown on the Gülen movement
STOCKHOLM— The Stockholm Center for Freedom today released a new report, “UN Findings on Turkey’s Crackdown on the Gülen Movement: Widespread and Systematic Rights...
Human Rights in Turkey: 2025 in Review
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This report highlights the most important developments in the area of human rights in Turkey in 2025, a year marked by continued democratic...
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...