As Ankara prepares to host the upcoming NATO summit, Turkey’s opposition has denounced the government’s expansion of security measures across the capital. Officials have turned large parts of the city into restricted zones, prompting accusations that the authorities are prioritizing foreign dignitaries’ safety at the expense of residents' freedoms and civil liberties.
The two-day NATO summit will convene leaders from all 32 member states, including the expected attendance of the US president. Ahead of this international gathering, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a broad crackdown targeting individuals suspected of planning protests during the event. This security operation led to the detention of hundreds of people, notably including environmental activists, academics, journalists, and lawyers. Authorities have accused these detainees of affiliations with terrorist organizations active decades ago, particularly the outlawed Turkish Communist Party/Marxist Leninist (TKP/ML).
The opposition contends that many of those detained have no links to violent activities. Özgür Özel, former leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), criticized the arrests as politically motivated preventive measures that exploit the summit as a justification. He pointed out that even volunteers from the environmental organization TEMA have been jailed merely for innocuous actions like attending picnics, alleging these detentions target civil society figures who might stage protests. CHP leaders argue the government is generating undue hardship for residents and suppressing dissent under the guise of security.
Reports indicate that 225 individuals were detained following search operations, with arrest warrants issued for more than 240 suspects nationwide. The authorities frame these actions as part of an anti-terrorism investigation. However, the arrests have stirred renewed debate about Turkey’s balance between security protocols and democratic rights, especially as the government appears to use the summit as a pretext for broader crackdowns.
Özel highlighted that courts annulled his rise to CHP leadership in a ruling his party views as politically charged. He described the ongoing measures as “extraordinary” and unprecedented, emphasizing that many detainees are expected to be released once the summit concludes and international attention fades. The opposition warns that the intensified policing and legal actions threaten to undermine freedoms and intensify political polarization ahead of key diplomatic events in Turkey.