Protests Erupt Across Türkiye During NATO Summit
Socialist groups and lawmakers held wide-ranging protests across Ankara and Istanbul to oppose NATO defense budgets and military actions in the Middle East.
A series of demonstrations broke out across Türkiye during a NATO summit in Ankara. NATO faced protests from students, socialist groups, and lawmakers who condemned the alliance's expanding defense budgets. On July 7, 2026, these rallies continued in Ankara and extended to Istanbul, where several hundred people marched from Taksim Square to Dolmabahce Palace.
The Istanbul march, coordinated by the Istanbul Labour, Peace and Democracy Forces, focused on condemning the killing of women and children in the Gaza Strip and the presence of U.S. military bases in the Middle East. These actions followed larger demonstrations on July 5 across multiple cities, which led to a significant number of arrests.
Political organizations reported heavy detentions following the unrest. The Turkish Communist Party reported 145 detainees, while the People's Liberation Party stated that 19 activists were detained in Ankara.
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