Prison population and detention conditions
Turkey maintains one of the largest prison populations in Europe. By late 2025, the number of detainees had surpassed 420,000, confirming earlier projections, and continued to rise to over 430,000 by the end of the year. As of early 2026, the prison population remains above 400,000, keeping Turkey among the highest-ranking Council of Europe countries in terms of prisoners per capita.
The country recorded 408 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, significantly exceeding the European average. A substantial proportion of the prison population remains in pre-trial detention, which human rights observers describe as both prolonged and frequently applied in politically sensitive cases.
Between 52,050 and 52,066 detainees, representing approximately 15% of the prison population, were held in pre-trial detention awaiting trial. Human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the extensive use of pre-trial detention as a punitive measure rather than as a procedural safeguard.
Particular concern surrounds the treatment of approximately 1,600 seriously ill prisoners, many of whom reportedly remain in detention despite medical conditions that would typically justify release on humanitarian grounds.
Reports from international organizations further document allegations of ill-treatment, degrading treatment, and torture in detention or police custody, including in facilities used to detain migrants and refugees.
Civil society, academia, and the legal profession
Civil society organizations in Turkey have faced significant restrictions over the past decade. Following the introduction of emergency legislation after the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, more than 1,500 NGOs were permanently closed, their assets confiscated, and judicial oversight curtailed.
Academic freedom has also been severely affected. More than 6,000 academics were dismissed from universities, often without effective legal remedies. Among them were 2,212 academics who had signed the “Academics for Peace” petition, which called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in southeastern Turkey. Many signatories faced criminal investigations, travel bans, or imprisonment.
The legal profession has similarly been targeted. Since 2016, more than 1,600 lawyers have been prosecuted, with over 600 sentenced to prison on terrorism-related charges. Human rights monitoring groups report that the cumulative prison sentences imposed on lawyers exceed 4,000 years.
Religious freedom and minority rights
Religious minorities in Turkey continue to face institutional restrictions and discrimination. The Alevi community, estimated at 15–20 million people, has long sought official recognition of its places of worship (cemevis), which continue to be excluded from state funding available to Sunni mosques.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople lacks legal personality under Turkish law and remains unable to reopen the historic Halki Theological Seminary, which has been closed since 1971.
The conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020 and the reconversion of the Chora Church in 2024, have drawn international criticism and raised concerns regarding religious pluralism.
Additionally, antisemitic rhetoric in print and on social media increased following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, while incidents of harassment targeting Jewish citizens were documented during the same period.
European Court of Human Rights judgments
Turkey currently ranks first in the number of pending cases before the European Court of Human Rights among all member states of the Council of Europe.
More than 70% of judgments against Turkey involve violations of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial and unlawful detention. Despite the legally binding nature of ECtHR rulings, their implementation remains inconsistent, particularly in politically sensitive cases.
Conclusion
The scope and duration of these policies have undermined fundamental rights and democratic pluralism. Turkey has repeatedly violated the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty, whose preamble declares: “The Parties to this Treaty are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law”.