Istanbul [Turkey], July 6: Turkish authorities detained several people, including journalists, academics and left-wing group members, in raids across several provinces, local media and unions reported on Sunday, as the government stepped up security operations ahead of this week's NATO summit in Ankara.
Raids in Ankara, Istanbul and several other provinces targeted leftist and socialist parties, trade unions and civil society groups, opposition broadcaster Halk TV and Cumhuriyet (Republic) newspaper reported. Among those detained were two editors from the T24 and Oda TV news portals, which are critical of the government.
The Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) and the Progressive Lawyers' Association (CHD) demanded on the social media platform X the release of those held, saying the arrests violated press freedom and calling the raids an attempt to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the NATO meeting. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
