Sawt Falasteen - HRW denounces Turkey arrests ahead of NATO summit

The arrests took place on Tuesday after Ankara public prosecutor's office issued warrants for 241 people, with anti-terror police detaining 209 in a string of early-morning raids, most of them suspected of ties to far-left groups blacklisted by the Turkish government.

HRW said the detainees included political activists, lawyers, an academic, and a journalist who is a prominent LGBT rights activist, with prosecutors saying the aim was to thwart "the actions and activities of terrorist organisations".

The NATO summit takes place in Ankara on July 7-8.

Of the total number wanted for arrest, prosecutors said 185 were identified as belonging to far-left organisations, while another 56 were identified as having suspected ties to the Islamic State (IS) group.

One was shot dead during a confrontation with police about 100 kilometres south of Ankara, security sources told Turkish media.

Environmental NGO Tema Foundation also said some of its staff and volunteers had been arrested following a visit to a bird sanctuary, with the Medyascope news website saying the sweep included an unspecified number of birdwatchers in their 60s.

"The misuse of terrorism laws to conduct mass arrests and silence people in the run-up to a NATO summit flies in the face of the founding values of the alliance," said Benjamin Ward of Human Rights Watch, calling for the authorities to "immediately release" the detainees.

"Clearing the streets of Ankara of potential protesters only further exposes the Turkish government’s deepening repression," he said.

"Turkey's NATO allies should use their influence to urge the authorities to change course."

On the eve of the raids, the Ankara governor’s office banned all public demonstrations and activities for 13 days from midnight on June 28, putting up large billboards along roads leading to the airport to hide poorer rundown areas from view, an AFP journalist and Turkish media reports said.

Other houses were given a free lick of paint to spruce them up ahead of the arrival of the heads of state of 32 nations, including US President Donald Trump, the Sozcu newspaper reported.

Local authorities were also ordered to take stray dogs off the streets and many events were cancelled, including exams, graduation ceremonies, festivals, concerts, entertainment and celebrations for the summit week.

There has been a backlash on social media against the widespread restrictions imposed across the city, including plans to reportedly shut down a number of public parks to allow French President Emmanuel Macron to carry out his morning run, which he often keeps up while travelling abroad.

T.Samara--SF-PST