July 5, 2026, 2:28 p.mJuly 5, 2026, 2:28 p.m
A few days before the start of the NATO summit in Ankara, the Turkish authorities arrested numerous people in raids in several provinces. Turkish media and trade unions reported that these included journalists, scientists and members of left-wing groups.
The government had strengthened its security measures before the start of the NATO summit on July 7th and 8th. Authorities describe the raids as part of a counterterrorism investigation. Critics say the operations are aimed at preventing protests.
There were protests in Türkiye before the NATO summit.Image: keystone
State news agency Anadolu reported that police arrested 39 suspects in raids in eight provinces. The operation was therefore directed against the youth wing of a banned left-wing group. In another operation in the western province of Kocaeli, police also arrested 28 suspects suspected of having links to extremist groups, according to Anadolu. During the raids, authorities confiscated ammunition and banned digital materials.
The Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) and the Association of Progressive Lawyers (CHD) called for the release of the arrested journalists on Platform X. They described the arrests as a violation of press freedom and called the raids an attempt to intimidate opposition voices in the run-up to the NATO meeting. There had already been arrests last week. (sda/dpa)