Raids in eight Turkish provinces: 39 arrests ahead of NATO summit in Ankara

Criticism from journalists and lawyers

The Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) and the Association of Progressive Lawyers (CHD) demanded the immediate release of those detained on the platform X. The raids constituted an attack on press freedom and were an attempt to intimidate opposition voices. A Turkish bar association also joined this demand. Turkish media outlets and unions reported consistently that those arrested included journalists, academics, and members of left-wing groups.

Critics accuse the security authorities of wanting to nip in the bud any possible protests against the NATO summit through the operations. The arrests came at a time when the Turkish government is presenting the protection of the summit as a priority. The Turkish authorities themselves describe the raids as part of ongoing anti-terror investigations. Tensions between state security interests and civil society's freedom rights have thus intensified further immediately before the start of the international meeting.

Political context of the summit

The NATO summit in Ankara is considered an important foreign policy event, at which, among other things, support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and the future direction of the alliance are to be discussed. The arrests also make clear the domestic political dimension of the preparations: the government is demonstrating its ability to act against alleged security threats, while the opposition and professional associations take issue with the handling of press freedom and freedom of expression.

German foreign reporting, including a Deutschlandfunk broadcast on July 5, 2026, picked up on the events and pointed to the importance of press freedom in democratic societies. International observers will closely follow further developments surrounding the NATO summit and the treatment of those detained. It remains unclear when decisions on releases will be made and whether further arrests will follow.