According to the Human Rights Association (İHD) report, at least 930 people were detained for participating in protests or for social media posts related to the issue. At least 123 people were arrested, including 1 journalist and 32 children.
Adnan Bilen /MA
The Human Rights Association (İHD) prepared a report on violations of rights that occurred during protests in Turkey against the attacks that began on January 6, 2026, when the Syrian interim government in Syria targeted Kurdish-populated neighborhoods in Aleppo, and which later spread across Rojava.
The report, prepared by the İHD Documentation Center using information reflected in the press and other open sources, as well as observation reports from İHD branches, covers violations identified between January 6, 2026 and February 12, 2026.
According to the report, at least 930 people were detained for participating in protests or for social media posts related to the issue. At least 123 people were arrested, including 1 journalist and 32 children.
Some of the violations identified in the report are as follows:
Interventions in 22 provinces
- In response to protests and reactions against attacks on Kurds in Syria, law enforcement intervened in more than 70 peaceful demonstrations in at least 22 provinces. Many people, including co-mayors, human rights defenders, trade union and professional organization leaders, journalists, and children, were detained.
- During the interventions, chemical agents such as tear gas, as well as plastic bullets and water cannons were used. It was documented that law enforcement used physical violence against many individuals and that detainees were handcuffed behind their backs.
- Governorships in three provinces (Urfa, Mardin, and Diyarbakır) imposed bans on all types of demonstrations and events for varying periods.
- In Mersin, one refugee died after a civilian opened random fire to threaten protesters. At least 5 people, including 4 journalists, were injured by law enforcement in various ways.
- At least 930 people were detained for participating in protests or for related social media posts. At least 123 people were arrested, including 1 journalist and 32 children.
- Many individuals were subjected to torture and ill-treatment both during interventions against protests and throughout detention and imprisonment processes.
Journalists were obstructed
- At least 8 journalists were detained while covering the protests. Journalist Nedim Oruç was arrested.
- Access was blocked to more than 40 social media accounts and websites belonging to news outlets, including Mezopotamya Agency, Jinnews, ETHA, Yeni Yaşam, and Ajansa Welat. Hundreds of social media accounts were also restricted.
- In response to reports that HTS and affiliated armed groups cut the braids of women they executed in Syria, 4 people (2 of them children) were detained for sharing videos of themselves braiding hair on social media; one child was arrested. A nurse was suspended from duty for sharing similar content. For the same reason, the Professional Football Disciplinary Board (PFDK) imposed various administrative penalties on the Amedspor club, its president, and player Çekdar Orhan.
- At least 46 people who were foreign nationals were deported.