Ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara on July 7–8, numerous people were detained during house raids. Among the 209 detained individuals are Elif Torun Öneren, the Chairperson of the Revolutionary Party, Hediye Yıldırım, a member of the Executive Board of Halkevleri, and journalist Yıldız Tar. A 24-hour restriction on lawyer access has been issued for the case file.
Following the Ankara Governorship’s 13-day ban on all demonstrations and events across the city for the NATO summit to be held on July 7–8, 2009 people were detained during morning raids targeting the homes of those who participated in anti-NATO protests.
During simultaneous morning house raids, numerous individuals from various institutions were detained, including the New Democratic Youth (YDG), the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), the Free University Movement, the Contemporary Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD), the People’s Law Office, and the Union of Precarious Unemployed Workers (UMUT-SEN). According to a statement by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, detention warrants were issued for a total of 241 people, and 209 individuals have been detained so far. A 24-hour restriction on lawyer access was imposed on those detained.
Backlash against rounding up stray animals
The Ankara Governorship had previously announced that, on the grounds of “ensuring summit security,” various bans would be implemented from 00:00 on June 28 until 23:59 on July 10, ahead of the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7–8.
On the other hand, ahead of the NATO Summit, the Ankara Provincial Security Directorate requested the rounding up of street dogs, particularly along the routes the delegation will pass and around accommodation areas. The official letter sent to municipalities requesting the rounding up of stray animals drew sharp criticism from various segments of society, led by animal rights defenders.
Melodi Zengin from the İzmir Life Rights Defenders stated, “We do not accept the rounding up of animals for the murderer NATO.” Zengin noted that rounding up animals is the product of a completely “anthropocentric” perspective that rejects ecological integrity.
The press release issued by the Turkey’s Ankara Governorship regarding the restrictions is as follows:
“Within the scope of the 36th NATO Summit to be held in Ankara on July 7–8, 2026; necessary security measures have been taken both to ensure the security of the summit and to maintain the peace and safety of our citizens by preserving public order. Accordingly, the following decisions have been made.
In order to prevent actions/activities that violate the provisions of Articles 6–10 and 22 of the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, which state, ‘Meetings cannot be held in parks, places of worship, buildings and facilities performing public services and their annexes, and within an area of 1 km from the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In meetings held in public squares, it is mandatory to comply with the regulations to be made by the Governorships and District Governorships to ensure the passage of the public and transport vehicles’;
Based on the provision of Article 17 of the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, which states, ‘The regional governor, governor, or district governor may postpone a specific meeting for a period not exceeding one month, or ban it if there is a clear and imminent danger of a crime being committed, for the purpose of protecting national security, public order, prevention of crime, public health and public morals, or the rights and freedoms of others,’
and Article 11/C of the Provincial Administration Law No. 5442, which states, ‘It is among the duties and responsibilities of the Governor to ensure peace and security, personal immunity, safety regarding disposition, public welfare, and to exercise preventive law enforcement authority within provincial borders. (Additional sentence: 25/7/2018-7145/1 art.) The Governor takes the necessary decisions and measures to ensure these’;
Taking into account the protests previously held by various groups in places where guests will be accommodated and where the meeting will take place, as well as the calls made by these groups through social media;
For the purposes of ensuring national security, the reputation of our country, the peace and security of citizens, public order, the prevention of crime, and protecting the rights and freedoms of others, as well as the life safety of the delegations participating in the summit at the highest level;
ACROSS OUR PROVINCE,
Preventing the entry of unauthorized vehicles and individuals into designated sensitive areas, particularly the zones where the summit will be held, places where the delegation will stay, and transition routes,
Banning all kinds of unmanned aerial vehicle (drone, etc.) flights in the airspace of our province between the specified dates (except with the permission of the Governorship),
BANNING all kinds of open and closed area gatherings, meetings and demonstration marches, press statements, hunger strikes, sit-ins, protest actions, rallies, setting up stands, pitching tents, distributing flyers/manifestos/brochures, hanging posters/banners, etc., actions/activities within the scope of Article 11/C of Law No. 5442 and Article 17 of Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, from 00:00 on June 28, 2026, until 23:59 on July 10, 2026 (for a duration of 13 days), necessary decisions have been made.
Respectfully announced to the public.”
