Turkish Police Detain Over 100 at Anti-NATO Protests in Ankara and Istanbul

Turkish police detained more than 100 participants in an anti-NATO protest march organized by the Communist Party of Turkey in Ankara on Sunday. The march occurred in Kizilay square ahead of a NATO leaders' summit scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the capital.

Turkey will host leaders from the 32 allied countries and officials from NATO partners during the two-day meeting. Authorities increased security measures across Ankara, including a ban on demonstrations, road closures, and barricades around large sections of the city.

Separate protests organized by the same party drew hundreds of participants from Taksim Square to Dolmabahce in Istanbul. Two additional demonstrations by leftist groups took place in the Kadikoy district. " No clashes were reported during the Istanbul events despite a heavy police presence.

"We have gathered today in many parts of Turkey to protest against NATO," TKP Secretary General Kemal Okuyan said in Istanbul. "We said that we would not hand over Ankara to supporters of NATO, that we would not allow Ankara to remain silent. " The government did not immediately comment on the protests or detentions.

Last month, authorities arrested 103 people during anti-terror raids in Ankara that also detained 225 others. On Sunday, 39 additional people, including journalists, activists, and academics, were detained in anti-terror operations across the country.

Tuncer Bakirhan, co-chair of Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party, and main opposition Republican People's Party's court-appointed chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu said the detentions were unacceptable measures that hindered basic rights ahead of the summit. Turkish prosecutors have stated the operations were part of efforts to uncover militant group activities.