Mass arrests took place in Turkey ahead of the NATO summit — Reuters
On the eve of the NATO summit, Turkish law enforcement officials detained more than a hundred participants in a protest against the Alliance. Police used tear gas to disperse the unauthorized demonstration in Ankara.
According to the agency, the protest was organized by the Communist Party of Turkey (CPT). Despite an official ban on demonstrations, its supporters gathered in Ankara’s central Kizilay Square.
Protesters held party flags and chanted slogans such as “NATO, you murderer, get out of the country” and “No passage for NATO.” Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. According to the CHP, more than 100 people were detained, including not only party members but also members of its leadership.
The protests took place not only in Ankara. In Istanbul, hundreds of people marched from Taksim Square to the Dolmabahçe district. Protests also took place in the Kadıköy district.
Despite a significant police presence, no major clashes were reported in Istanbul. Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey, stated that the protesters sought to express their opposition to the NATO summit.
“We gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO. We said we would not hand Ankara over to NATO supporters, that we would not allow Ankara to be silenced. We have kept that promise,” Okuyan said.
Reuters notes that Turkish authorities significantly stepped up security measures ahead of the international event. According to the agency, 103 people were arrested last month alone during counterterrorism raids, and a total of 225 people were detained. Another 39 people were detained on Sunday in other regions of the country.
Officially, Turkish authorities cite the fight against terrorism and the need to ensure security during the NATO summit as the reasons for these actions, Reuters reports.
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