Turkish authorities have intensified a crackdown on perceived critics ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, with the detention of journalists, academics and lawyers drawing renewed attention to concerns over press freedom and political dissent in the country.
Police detained Turkish journalists Buse Sogutlu and Ceren Erdogdu over the weekend, along with dozens of academics and lawyers. Istanbul’s chief prosecutor’s office said the arrests were part of an operation targeting a banned leftist group.
The detentions came shortly after comedian Deniz Goktas was arrested over allegations including insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Goktas, whose recent stand-up special received 11 million views on YouTube, has denied the allegations and has been sent to a high-security prison.
The developments have taken place as leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization arrive in Ankara for the July 7-8 summit, where alliance members are expected to discuss security commitments and the future direction of NATO.
Turkey’s strategic importance within NATO has increased amid tensions between US President Donald Trump and European leaders over defence responsibilities and the war with Iran. Analysts say Ankara’s growing role as a defence partner has complicated international responses to domestic political developments.
The European Union, which Turkey has sought unsuccessfully to join for decades, has issued a limited response to the latest crackdown. However, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte raised concerns over restrictions on media access during the summit.
Speaking at the opening of the NATO meeting, Rutte highlighted the exclusion of local journalists who had been blocked by Turkish authorities from attending. “Democracy is also the free media,” he said, adding that NATO considers it important for journalists to be able to attend major events in person.
Dozens of Turkish journalists, including reporters from mainstream and opposition media outlets, were denied accreditation to cover the summit. NATO said it had relied on assessments provided by the Turkish government regarding the journalists affected.
The pressure on opposition figures has also continued. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, considered President Erdogan’s most prominent political rival, appeared in court on Monday in three separate cases following his detention last year over alleged corruption charges.
In May, a court removed Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), from his position. The developments have intensified concerns among opposition groups and European officials over the state of democracy in Turkey.
“As Turkey hosts the NATO Summit, its democratic future is being shaped in a Silivri courtroom,” Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur, said on Sunday, referring to the large prison complex outside Istanbul. He called on the European Union to look beyond Ankara when assessing developments in the country.
The Turkish Journalists’ Association also expressed concern over the detention of media professionals ahead of the summit. The organisation said the arrests threatened the public’s right to information and weakened protections for press and expression freedoms.
President Erdogan is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday before holding talks with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The crackdown has placed Turkey’s domestic political tensions in focus as the country seeks to project its strategic importance on the international stage through its hosting of the NATO summit.
