Turkey criticized for mass arrests of opposition figures before NATO summit

In the days leading up to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkish authorities detained more than 200 people, including academics, lawyers, activists and a university professor, citing alleged links to terrorism and potential protest activity. CHP MP Rahmi Aşkın Türeli condemned the arrests as an attempt to intimidate societal opposition and warned they undermine democratic rights.

U.S. Representative James P. McGovern sent a letter to President Donald Trump before his visit to the summit, urging the release of political prisoners such as Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and former HDP leader Selahattin Demirtaş, and calling for the issue to be raised during summit talks.