Turkey issues over 100 arrest warrants ahead of NATO summit

A Turkish court issued arrest warrants for 103 people on accusations of membership in a terrorist organisation, expanding a crackdown that began earlier in the week with the detention of 225 activists. The suspects include members of the environmental group Tema, the LGBTI+ organisation Kaos GL, trade‑unionists, lawyers and left‑wing activists. Thirty‑two of those previously detained have been released while 241 remain sought by authorities. The arrests come as Ankara prepares to host the NATO summit on 7‑8 July, prompting the government to impose extensive demonstration bans and close central streets. Officials rejected claims of martial law, describing the measures as security‑related, while EU observers criticised the “preventive” arrests. The case underscores heightened tension between Turkey’s security agenda and civil‑society freedoms ahead of the high‑profile international meeting.