Turkey Intensifies Arrests of Activists Ahead of NATO Summit

Ankara is busy finalising preparations for the NATO summit scheduled for July 7–8. The high‑profile meeting comes amid heightened international tensions, partly driven by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticisms of the trans‑Atlantic alliance.

For Turkey, the summit is significant because the country holds NATO’s second‑largest military and occupies a critical position on the alliance’s southeastern flank. It also marks the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to Turkey in 17 years, following Barack Obama’s 2009 trip.

However, the preparations have been marred by a sweeping wave of arrests. According to media reports, 225 individuals have been detained in recent days, 178 of whom remain in pre‑trial detention. The group includes human‑rights and environmental activists, journalists, and other civil society figures. In addition, a strict two‑week ban on public gatherings has been imposed within Ankara itself.

Allegations of Terrorism

Turkish prosecutors justify the crackdown by citing ongoing investigations into terrorist organisations, stating that the aim is to uncover their activities across the country.

Among those arrested are Nevzat Özer, the Ankara representative of the environmental group TEMA Foundation; economist Emel Memiş Parmaksiz; and Yıldız Tar, journalist and editor‑in‑chief of the LGBTQ portal Kaos GL. Attorneys Semra Demir and Kursat Bafra have also been detained on accusations of belonging to an armed terrorist organisation and remain in pre‑trial detention.

Several of the accused were questioned about possible links to the banned Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist‑Leninist, which the state has classified as a terrorist organisation. The questioning focused on potential aliases, military training, and organisational structures. Those questioned rejected the allegations, with some denying any awareness of the group.

Why Is Turkey Arresting Protesters?

Why is the government taking this approach so close to the NATO summit, risking international criticism? Political scientist Berk Esen argues that a government seeking a positive image ahead of a major summit is, in effect, undermining its own interests. He also points to a familiar pattern of arrests of left‑wing activists before previous summits in Turkey.

Embedded video — Why Europe Stays Silent in Turkey’s Opposition Crisis

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

The move could also signal something to the U.S.; according to Esen, the crackdown appears to target individuals suspected of planning protests. “Many of those arrested have no political ties or connections to the political left,” Esen added, noting that “this can also be explained by weaknesses in the judicial system.”

Arrests Expose Turkey’s Deepening Repression

Human Rights Watch has voiced strong criticism. “The misuse of terrorism laws to conduct mass arrests and silence people in the run‑up to a NATO summit flies in the face of the founding values of the alliance,” said Benjamin Ward, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, on the organisation’s website. “Clearing the streets of Ankara of potential protesters only further exposes the Turkish government’s deepening repression,” he added, urging Turkey’s NATO allies to use their influence to urge the authorities to change course.

Embedded video — Turkey Acts as Regional Mediator between Iran and the U.S.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Source link