The trial over the death of retired teacher Metin Lokumcu as a result of the tear gas used by the police during a protest demonstration continued with its third hearing at the Trabzon 2nd High Criminal Court today, February 18, 2022.

By a majority of votes, the Parliamentary Joint Commission on Constitution and Justice has concluded that the legislative immunity of HDP MP Semra Güzel should be lifted. The last decision will be given in a vote at the General Assembly.

As no appointment was made to the Executive Board of the BİK, the BİK General Assembly had been unable to meet since February 17, 2021.

Several politicians from the main opposition CHP, İYİ Party and HDP have posted social media messages drawing attention to the lyrics of the song. Pro-government media outlets have argued that the song was composed “on order”.

HDP Spokesperson Günay says, “We find the Democracy Alliance important not only for the elections. We want to represent the third way outside the statist blocs and to realize the dream of a democratic country in favor of peoples.”

Women are especially hit by increasing prices at bazaars and markets and increases in bills in Turkey. Fahriye from Diyarbakır says, “Some days, I cry because I cannot buy anything” while Özlem says, “We can have only one meal a day.”

The Northern Forests Research Association has released its last quarterly report identifying 317 factors of threat, destruction and defense in the region which also covers İstanbul in October - November - December 2021.

Family physicians and family health center employees have halted work for two days on the grounds that the Family Medicine Contract and Payment Regulation leads to losses in their employee personal rights and removes job security.

The Ministry of Health has announced that over 465 thousand tests were conducted, 92,406 people were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 258 people died of the disease in Turkey in the last 24 hours.

Referred to the Şırnak Courthouse today, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut has been released on probation after giving her statement to the prosecutor’s office. Durgut had been in detention since February 14.

The Chair of Giresun Bar Association has said that the news alleging that her family forced Sıla Şentürk to get engaged do not reflect the truth. The Ministry of Family and Social Services has also released a written statement about the incident.

The Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court sentenced Bülbül to 6 years, 3 months in prison on November 26, 2020 on the grounds that he had attended the meetings of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and made speeches there.