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'Murderer NATO': Over 100 anti-NATO protesters detained in Turkey ahead of Ankara summit

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Turkish authorities detained over 100 anti-NATO protesters ahead of an alliance summit in Ankara.
  • The Communist Party of Turkey organized the protest, chanting slogans against NATO and its presence in the country.
  • The detentions occurred amid heightened security measures and a ban on demonstrations in Ankara for the upcoming summit.

Turkish authorities detained more than 100 individuals participating in an anti-NATO protest march organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) on Sunday. The demonstration took place ahead of a significant NATO summit scheduled for this week in Ankara, where leaders from 32 allied nations and partner countries will convene.

Murderer NATO, get out of the country

— ProtestersSlogan chanted during the anti-NATO demonstration.

Security measures have been intensified across the Turkish capital in anticipation of the summit. Authorities have implemented a ban on demonstrations, erected barricades in large sections of the city, and closed off numerous roads. The TKP stated that over 100 party members, including administrators, were detained during the protest march in Ankara's central Kizilay square. Footage from the event showed protesters waving flags and chanting slogans such as "Murderer NATO, get out of the country" and "No passage to NATO," as riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowds.

No passage to NATO

— ProtestersSlogan chanted during the anti-NATO demonstration.

In Istanbul, separate protests organized by leftist groups also occurred. Hundreds marched from Taksim Square to Dolmabahce, and other demonstrations took place in the Kadikoy district. While a heavy police presence was noted, these Istanbul protests proceeded without scuffles. TKP Secretary General Kemal Okuyan declared in Istanbul that the party had gathered across Turkey to protest NATO, vowing not to allow Ankara to remain silent on the issue.

We have gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO.

— Kemal OkuyanTKP Secretary General speaking in Istanbul.

The detentions have drawn criticism from Turkish politicians. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, and Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party, denounced the detentions as unacceptable infringements on basic rights. Bakirhan described the situation on X/Twitter as "days of undeclared martial law," arguing that the country has been transformed into a detention center using the NATO summit as a pretext.

We said that we would not hand over Ankara to supporters of NATO, that we would not allow Ankara to remain silent. We have fulfilled that promise.

— Kemal OkuyanTKP Secretary General speaking in Istanbul.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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