Turkey arrests protesters ahead of NATO Summit

Turkish authorities arrested over 100 demonstrators in Ankara on Sunday during an anti-NATO march organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). The protest took place as the capital prepares to host a NATO summit next week, bringing together leaders from 32 member countries and partner nations.

The TKP reported that its march, held in Ankara's central Kizilay Square, saw the detention of party members and officials. Visuals from the scene showed protesters carrying flags and chanting slogans like "Murderous NATO, out of the country" and "No passage to NATO." Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Parallel demonstrations were organized by the TKP in Istanbul, where hundreds marched from Taksim Square to Dolmabahce. Other left-wing groups also held gatherings in the Kadikoy district without incident, despite a heavy police presence. TKP Secretary-General Kemal Okuyan stated, "We gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO," vowing that Ankara would not be surrendered to NATO supporters.

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We gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO. We said that we would not surrender Ankara to NATO supporters, that we would not allow silence to prevail. We kept that promise.

Government officials have not yet commented on the protests or arrests. The arrests come amid heightened security measures across the city, including road closures and barricades. Earlier in June, Turkish authorities arrested 103 individuals in anti-terrorism operations in Ankara. Media reports on Sunday also indicated that 39 more people, including independent journalists, activists, and academics, were detained in similar operations nationwide.

The detentions have drawn criticism from political figures. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish DEM party, and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the court-appointed chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), condemned the arrests as unacceptable and restrictive of fundamental rights. Bakirhan criticized the situation, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "The country has completely turned into a detention center under the pretext of the NATO summit," adding, "We are living days of informal military rule."

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The country has completely turned into a detention center under the pretext of the NATO summit. We are living days of informal military rule.