The Communist Party of Turkey has announced that Turkish security forces detained more than 100 of its members on Sunday during a protest march against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Ankara. The demonstrations were held on the eve of a NATO summit scheduled to take place in the Turkish capital.
In a statement, the party said the protest march took place in Ankara’s central Kızılay Square, during which more than 100 people, including several senior members and party officials, were detained by security forces.
According to published footage, protesters expressed their opposition to the military alliance by carrying flags and chanting slogans such as “Murderous NATO, get out of our country” and “There is no way for NATO here.” Reports also indicate that riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
At the same time, the Communist Party of Turkey held another demonstration in Istanbul. Hundreds of participants marched from Taksim Square to the Dolmabahçe area. Additionally, two other gatherings organized by leftist groups were held in the Kadıköy district. Despite a heavy security presence, no reports of clashes or arrests were recorded in the Istanbul protests.
Kemal Okuyan, Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Turkey, said in connection with the demonstrations that NATO opponents have taken to the streets in various cities across the country and will not allow the Turkish government to remain silent in the face of the alliance’s actions.
The protests come as Turkey is set to host a NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday, 16 and 17 July, bringing together leaders from the alliance’s 32 member states as well as representatives from partner countries.
In preparation for the summit, Turkish authorities have significantly increased security measures in Ankara. The governor’s office has banned all public gatherings, erected security barriers in parts of the city, and closed several major highways to traffic.
Meanwhile, Turkish media reported on Sunday that 39 additional individuals, including journalists, civil society activists, and academics, were detained as part of counterterrorism operations across the country. Last month, authorities also detained at least 225 people in a similar operation in Ankara.
The Turkish government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the recent protests by the Communist Party of Turkey or reports of arrests of demonstrators and other individuals.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
