Davutoğlu Condemns Arrest Wave in Turkey Ahead of NATO Summit

Davutoğlu issued a written statement on his social media platforms strongly opposing the timing of recent arrests in Turkey, cautioning against turning the judiciary into an "instrument of intimidation" against society.

He noted that the security campaign targeted members of the TEMA Environmental Foundation, academics, and citizens affiliated with leftist movements under the pretext of "combating terrorist threats." He added that the recent detention of 12 suspects raised the total number of detainees in this context to 115 individuals.

Davutoğlu questioned, "If there is evidence and suspicions justifying detention, why wait until the NATO summit? And if you plan to release them after the summit with an apology, what is the meaning of this relentless mistreatment and punishment?"

In a related context, the Future Party leader sharply criticized the Turkish government's security strategy and foreign policy, arguing that security measures should not be used as a tool of domestic pressure.

He urged the government to focus its diplomatic efforts on major regional issues instead of restricting citizens, stating, "If you want to demonstrate your concept of 'security' to NATO countries, do so through diplomacy that stops Israel, which poses the greatest threat in the region. Show your strength to the child killers whose threats have reached our borders, not to our people!"

The NATO Heads of State and Government Summit is scheduled to take place in Ankara on July 7 and 8.