Turkey Conducts Raids in Several Provinces Ahead of NATO Summit, Detains Journalists and Activists

Turkish authorities have conducted raids in several provinces as part of heightened security measures before the NATO summit scheduled for next week in Ankara. Local media reported Sunday that police operations targeted socialists, left-wing activists, trade unions, and civil society groups.

The raids took place in Ankara, Istanbul, and other provinces. Among those detained are two editors from the critical news portals "T24" and "Oda TV." The Turkish Journalists' Association and the Progressive Lawyers' Association demanded their release on platform "X," stating that the arrests violate press freedom and are an attempt to intimidate the opposition ahead of the NATO summit.

State news agency "Anadolu" reported that 39 people were detained in raids across eight provinces on suspicion of links to the youth wing of the banned group "THKP/C-DEV YOL." In a separate operation in Kocaeli province, police detained 28 people suspected of ties to the terrorist group "Islamic State" and leftist groups. Authorities confiscated ammunition and prohibited digital materials during the raids.

Critics argue that these operations aim to prevent protests and suppress dissidents before the summit, while authorities claim they are part of counter-terrorism efforts. Ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8, which is expected to be attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish authorities have banned demonstrations and public gatherings from June 28 to July 10.