Turkish police have recently detained 225 individuals in the days leading up to a major NATO summit. Among the detainees are academics, teachers, and activists, whom authorities suspect have connections to militant groups, including the Islamic State. The group of detainees includes a 79-year-old environmental activist.
In Ankara, the city has implemented sweeping restrictions, banning public gatherings, press conferences, and the posting of materials, alongside the mobilization of approximately 40,000 police officers to secure the capital. Adding to the tension, Turkish authorities have reportedly refused accreditation to numerous independent journalists for the NATO summit scheduled for July 7th and 8th, without providing a detailed explanation. Uraz Kaspar, a journalist and member of the National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI), stated that a significant portion of the detainees are journalists affiliated with media outlets critical of the ruling government.
Kaspar noted that, regarding the NATO event, the international press community has stressed the necessity of achieving more balanced media coverage. The combined actions by Turkish authorities—the arrests, the stringent local bans in Ankara, and the accreditation issues—have drawn international attention to the state of press freedom.
Topics: #detainees #ankara #turkish
