Turkey intensifies crackdown on public life in run-up to Nato summit in Ankara

AI Summary

In the lead-up to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey has intensified crackdowns on public life, with more than 200 arrests, detainment of journalists and comedians, bans on protests, and denial of LGBTQ+ cruise ship docking. Human Rights Watch criticized these actions as severe infringements on freedom of expression and assembly.

More than 200 arrested in raids, comedian and journalists jailed, gay-friendly cruise turned away and protests banned Authorities in Turkey have widened a crackdown on public life, arresting more than 200 people during raids across Ankara last month, jailing a comedian and blocking a cruise ship carrying LGBTQ+ passengers from docking in the run-up to the Nato summit in the capital. The arrests followed a ban on demonstrations in Ankara that was put in place until 10 July. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said this was evidence of Turkey’s “ruthless intolerance of freedom of speech and assembly”. The watchdog group said the Nato summit, which starts on Tuesday, was taking place in the context of intensifying violations of basic rights, “including far-reaching restrictions on the main political opposition party, the media, and freedom of expression in general”. Continue reading...