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Turkish journalists arrested ahead of NATO summit


Turkish journalists arrested ahead of NATO summit

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Credit: AFP)

Turkish authorities detained two journalists ahead of a NATO summit which opens in Ankara on Tuesday, their outlets and a rights group said.

Dozens of arrests have been made in recent months of journalists and activists seen as critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who will host alliance leaders at the two-day summit.

Opposition website Bir Gun said its reporter Kayhan Ayhan, who has been covering the trial of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was detained at his Istanbul home on Monday night for publishing "fake news". He was to appear in court on Tuesday.

The MLSA rights group said that journalist Hazar Dost was also detained while shopping for food in Istanbul on charges over his participation in a 2018 protest.

Dost has already been acquitted once in the case but prosecutors have launched an appeal. He was also to be taken to court on Tuesday.

Turkish authorities detained two journalists ahead of a NATO summit which opens in Ankara on Tuesday, their outlets and a rights group said.Dozens of arrests have been made in recent months of journalists and activists seen as critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who will host alliance leaders at the two-day summit.Opposition website Bir Gun said its reporter Kayhan Ayhan, who has been covering the trial of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was detained at his Istanbul home on Monday night for publishing "fake news". He was to appear in court on Tuesday.The MLSA rights group said that journalist Hazar Dost was also detained while shopping for food in Istanbul on charges over his participation in a 2018 protest.Dost has already been acquitted once in the case but prosecutors have launched an appeal. He was also to be taken to...