Turkish police arrest over 100 during nationwide Anti-NATO protests

Turkish police arrested more than 100 activists during anti-NATO protests held in Ankara and Istanbul on Sunday.

The protests were organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP). In Ankara, protesters carrying TKP flags chanted slogans such as “Murderer NATO, get out of the country” and “No passage to NATO.” Police used tear gas to break up the crowd and arrested many protesters.

The TKP said more than 100 of its members, including party officials, were taken into custody.

In Istanbul, hundreds of left-wing activists also marched through the streets as part of the anti-NATO demonstrations.

TKP Secretary General Kemal Okuyan said, “We have gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO.” He added, “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.”

Last month, Turkish authorities also arrested many people during what they called anti-terror operations in Ankara. On Sunday, media reports said 39 more activists, including journalists and academics, were detained in similar raids across the country.

Government critics said the arrests ahead of next week’s NATO summit are limiting basic rights. Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party, said, “The country has been fully turned into a detention center by using the NATO summit as an excuse.” He also said, “We are living through days of undeclared martial law.”

Turkish prosecutors have said the operations are part of efforts to investigate militant group activities and have not linked them to the NATO summit.

The protests come before the NATO summit in Ankara next week. Authorities have increased security by banning demonstrations, setting up barricades in many parts of the city, and closing several roads.

Ankara is expected to host leaders from 32 NATO member countries and officials from NATO partner nations during the summit.