Turkey detains 13 environmentalists ahead of NATO summit

Thirteen environmental volunteers, aged 65 to 73, have been kept in pre‑trial detention by Turkish authorities on accusations of "terrorism" as the NATO summit approaches in Ankara on July 7‑8. Their lawyer, Sulayman Çetin, told the French news agency that the detainees face continued imprisonment until after the summit despite their need for medical care, stating: "Our 13 volunteers are under serious judicial prejudice…".

The arrests are part of a wider crackdown on June 23, when 225 people were detained and 178 placed in pre‑emptive custody. Among those held are a biodiversity professor, erosion specialists, an LGBT+ magazine editor, a unionist and university staff, all linked to the environmental NGO Tema.

Human Rights Watch criticized the use of anti‑terrorism legislation, calling it a violation of alliance values. Turkish law does not recognize preventive detention, a point highlighted by Çetin.

The case raises concerns over the application of terrorism statutes to civil society actors during a high‑profile international meeting.