A case was filed against 82 people detained for protesting the NATO Summit held in Ankara on 7-8 July 2026, on a charge of violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations. Ahead of the summit, the Ankara Governor’s Office banned demonstrations, marches, press statements and various events across the city between 28 June and 10 July. Despite the bans, 45 people, including Halkevleri Chair Sevinç Hocaoğulları, gathered at Kurtuluş Park following a call by the No to NATO Coordination, while 37 people took part in a march in Dikmen organized by the NATO Defol campaign group, the Workers’ Movement Party and the Revolutionary Party. Police held the 82 people in custody for three days before referring them to the courthouse. The protesters were released without their statements being taken. Indictments prepared three months later cited slogans including “Trump get out,” “Murderer USA, collaborator AKP” and “Imperialists and collaborators, do not forget the 6th Fleet” as grounds for the charges. Halkevleri criticized the cases and defended the anti-NATO protests.
9 October 2026
Sendika.Org