Turkish authorities detained at least 548 people in operations and police interventions against protests during the 20 days leading up to the NATO summit in Ankara, according to a report by Ufuk Sepetçi published in Cumhuriyet on July 7.
The two-day summit, which opens in Ankara on Tuesday, has been preceded by extensive security measures, including a sweeping protest ban, house raids, road closures, online access restrictions and disputed media accreditation decisions.
Figures compiled by Cumhuriyet show that at least 548 people were taken into custody between June 20 and July 6 in operations linked to the summit and in interventions against anti-NATO demonstrations. Those detained reportedly included journalists, lawyers, academics, students, trade unionists, association members and political party representatives.
In the first Ankara-centred wave of detentions, prosecutors issued detention orders for 241 people. Of those, 225 were taken into custody, while 178 were subsequently remanded in custody and 34 were placed under judicial supervision, Cumhuriyet reported. In a separate case in Istanbul, 19 of 31 suspects were arrested, while the remaining 12 were released under judicial control.
The overall figure also includes 89 people detained during a protest against a NATO parliamentary summit in Dolmabahçe, 39 people detained in multi-province house raids on July 5, 145 people detained during an anti-NATO march organised by the Turkish Communist Party, or TKP, in Ankara, and 19 people detained during an action held by the People’s Liberation Party, or HKP, near the former parliament building.
The Ankara Governor’s Office has imposed a citywide ban on public gatherings until 11:59 p.m. on July 10. The restrictions cover demonstrations, marches, press statements, sit-ins, rallies, the setting up of stands and tents, leaflet distribution, and the hanging of banners and posters. Unauthorised drone flights have also been banned.
Authorities have designated summit venues and delegation routes as “sensitive areas,” while numerous streets and avenues have been closed to traffic. The measures have also affected daily life in parts of the capital, with restrictions imposed on scooter use, motorcycle couriers and heavy vehicles. Security cordons were established around hotels and delegation routes, while some shopkeepers reportedly chose to close their businesses.
The crackdown has extended beyond the streets. According to Sepetçi’s report, anti-NATO campaign websites and social media content have faced access restrictions in the run-up to the summit. Court decisions blocked access to the websites natodefol.com and natoyahayir.tkh.org.tr, the latter operated by the Communist Movement of Turkey.
Several media outlets, including Cumhuriyet, BirGün, ANKA, Sözcü and Halk TV, reportedly had their summit accreditation applications rejected without explanation. NATO spokesperson and Strategic Communications Office Director Allison Hart said that, for summits held outside NATO headquarters, the alliance relies on assessments by the host country regarding journalists from that country. Her remarks prompted criticism that Turkish authorities had influenced the accreditation decisions.
The security measures have also sparked symbolic protests in Istanbul. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge was illuminated in white, blue and red — the colours of the US flag — drawing criticism from opponents of the summit. A banner reading, “Hide your children, Trump is coming,” was also hung from the Haliç Bridge.
On Monday, anti-NATO demonstrations were held in Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Adana, Samsun and Çanakkale following a call by the TKP, as tensions mounted ahead of the summit.