A Turkish court has issued arrest warrants for more than 100 people in Ankara less than two weeks before the NATO summit is scheduled to take place in the capital. The individuals are accused by authorities of membership in a terrorist organization, according to a statement from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The court ordered the detention of 103 people as part of an ongoing investigation. The suspects were among 225 people detained earlier in the week. Authorities said that 32 of those detained have since been released, while 241 people have been placed on a wanted list in connection with the investigation.
According to the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, those affected include members of the environmental organization TEMA and Yıldız Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTI+ organization Kaos GL. Trade union members, lawyers, and left-wing activists were also among those detained, while some individuals were placed under house arrest.
The arrests come shortly before Ankara hosts the NATO summit on July 7 and 8, bringing heightened international attention to the Turkish capital. The authorities have not provided further details in the statement regarding the specific evidence behind the accusations against the individuals named in the investigation.
The operation has involved a broad range of civil society figures, including environmental advocates, legal professionals, labor representatives, and activists. The allegations announced by prosecutors center on claims of links to a terrorist organization, though the identities of all suspects and the full scope of the investigation have not been publicly disclosed.
The NATO summit in Ankara is set to take place amid increased security measures in the host city. The Turkish authorities have continued operations against individuals suspected of security-related offenses, with prosecutors maintaining that the arrests are part of efforts to address alleged threats.
As preparations continue for the alliance meeting, the legal proceedings against the detained individuals remain ongoing. The court decisions and investigations will determine the next steps in the cases involving those accused.
