&#8216;No to NATO&#8217; &#8211; Istanbul marchers accuse alliance of &#8216;turning Middle East into battleground&#8217;

Anti-NATO Protest Begins

Labour, Peace, and Democracy Alliance supporters marched through Istanbul on Tuesday, protesting against the NATO Summit taking place in Ankara, with protesters accusing NATO of fuelling war in the region and turning the Middle East into a conflict zone.

Footage shows demonstrators gathering near the Ataturk Cultural Centre before marching through the streets towards Dolmabahce, carrying anti-NATO banners and placards reading ‘No to NATO, the killer of nations’.

They also chanted “Detentions, arrests, and crackdown will not intimidate us” as security was tightened around the rally.

Protesters Voice Concerns

“We came here to protest against NATO. We oppose the presence of imperialist NATO within our borders. We reiterate that standing against them is an honourable stance because they turned the Middle East into a battleground,” protester Yankee Ojicet said.

Demet Koca said protesters in Ankara had also been targeted.

“Today, our friends who took to the streets of Ankara against NATO were apprehended and tortured,” she said, adding: “During the last month, the crackdowns stepped up.”

Summit Sparks Opposition

Another protester, Pervin Ozgun, described NATO as a “platform to draw up more plans for new wars and carnages,” noting concerns about Turkey’s role within the alliance.

“Turkey has been regarded by both the United States and NATO as an advanced outpost,” Ozgun said.

The march came as NATO leaders gathered for the alliance’s 36th summit, held on July 7 and 8 at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara.

Anti-NATO protests have taken place across Turkey this week, with demonstrators calling for the country to leave the alliance and for foreign military bases to be shut down nationwide.

Article by Viory