NATO Chief Stoltenberg Cautions Turkey on Press Freedom and Protest Rights Before Summit

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg subtly criticized Turkey's recent actions, emphasizing that freedom of the press and the right to organize demonstrations are fundamental to democracy. His comments surfaced just before the NATO summit in Ankara, which is being held under heightened security.

Ankara is hosting the leaders of NATO's 32 member states and partner nations this week. In preparation, authorities banned protests in the capital, erected barricades, and closed several major roads. Over the weekend, more than 100 individuals were detained during left-wing protests, and another 103 were arrested in counter-terrorism operations in Ankara.

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Democracy also means that people can organize demonstrations if they choose to do so. It is much more than free elections.

When questioned about these measures, including the arrest of journalists and a well-known comedian, Stoltenberg stated that democracy encompasses more than just free elections. "Democracy also means that people can organize demonstrations if they choose to do so. It is much more than free elections," he said. He also stressed the importance of press freedom, noting that journalists should be able to cover major events. Reuters reports that several independent Turkish journalists were denied accreditation for the summit.

Turkish authorities maintain that the recent detentions and operations targeted militant activities and are unrelated to the NATO meeting. However, Reuters observes that Western nations, including NATO allies, have grown more reserved in their criticism of Turkey's human rights and civil liberties situation in recent years. Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accuse his government of increasingly authoritarian tendencies.

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Journalists must be able to participate in major events.