Turkish police intervened at an anti-NATO protest in Ankara just hours before the start of the Alliance’s summit. Several demonstrators were detained during the operation, while opposition party officials and journalists were also present at the scene.
The demonstration was organized following a call from the “NATO’ya Hayır Koordinasyonu” (No to NATO Coordination) initiative and began at 10 a.m. in Ankara’s Kurtuluş Park. The gathering aimed to voice opposition to the NATO summit being hosted in the Turkish capital.
During the protest, police intervened and surrounded the demonstrators, blocking the march from continuing. Security forces remained at the scene for some time, sealing off access to the park.
REUTERS/Efekan Akyuz
Politicians present, sharp reactions over forced removal of journalists
Among those present were Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP) chairman Erkan Baş, party spokesperson Sera Kadıgil, DEM Party MP Kezban Konukçu, Labor Party (EMEP) MPs İskender Bayhan and Sevda Karaca, and Halkevleri chair Sevinç Hocaoğlu. The crowd was surrounded by a heavy police presence.
According to Turkish media, police prevented journalists from filming the operation, forming a shield wall around the demonstrators and party representatives. Reporters were pushed back from the area to keep them from recording the incident.
REUTERS/Efekan Akyuz
Following the intervention, a number of protesters were detained and handcuffed. Reports also indicate that one detainee was subjected to neck pressure inside a police vehicle, sparking further backlash over the authorities’ conduct.
