In 2025, Turkey faced a troubling landscape of human rights abuses, with the Human Rights Association (İHD) documenting extensive violations. The report highlights a concerning trend of judicial intimidation against government critics, continuing to undermine fundamental freedoms in the country.
Widespread Torture and Ill-Treatment
The İHD’s “2025 Human Rights Violations Report” emphasizes that a staggering 1,842 individuals experienced torture or ill-treatment, while 6,719 faced arbitrary detention. Most incidents of ill-treatment were reported during police responses to public demonstrations, impacting 1,493 individuals. Additionally, 185 inmates suffered similar abuses while incarcerated. The findings underscore a systematic issue with the treatment of detainees in Turkey, reflecting ongoing authoritarian behaviors by the government.
The report also exposed the grim reality of suspicious deaths in detention, with 20 fatalities recorded, including 16 in prisons. Two incarcerated individuals passed away in hospitals while receiving medical care. These figures illustrate not only the harsh conditions within the prison system but also raise alarm regarding the oversight of healthcare for detainees.
Violent Trends Against Women and Children
A disturbing trend highlighted in the report was the atrocious violence against women and children. The İHD identified the homicide of 299 women and 64 children during 2025, with an additional 471 deaths categorized as suspicious. Such statistics paint a dire picture of the societal breakdown in safety and security for vulnerable groups, further emphasizing the urgent need for protective measures.
Crackdown on Political Dissent and Freedoms
Restrictions on freedom of assembly were pervasive, with authorities obstructing 306 demonstrations and intervening in 268 others. Police detained 8,477 individuals, with 1,112 facing jail time due to their participation in protests. The suppression extended to freedom of expression, as at least 507 individuals were detained for expressing their views through various media, with 123 subjected to judicial oversight.
Journalists endured escalating legal pressures, with 303 facing investigations or legal actions throughout the year. By the end of 2025, 42 journalists were behind bars, and authorities had restricted access to 489 news articles, illustrating a calculated effort to stifle independent media and maintain governmental control over information dissemination.
Government Intervention in Local Governance
The İHD report further elucidated government interference with local governance, noting that 22 mayors and co-mayors from 21 different municipalities were ousted during 2025. Since the local elections of 2024, the government dismissed a total of 27 mayors, including five leading metropolitan regions. This trend of replacing elected officials with government-appointed trustees underscores a broader strategy to mitigate opposition and control local governance.
The statistics provided merely scratch the surface of a troubling reality, as the İHD cautioned that the true extent of violations likely remains underestimated. Founded in 1986, the İHD has long served as a critical watchdog for human rights in Turkey, but the worsening conditions necessitate expansive action to ensure accountability and promote fundamental freedoms within the nation.