Turkish journalism groups say independent outlets denied accreditation for a NATO summit in Ankara

ANKARA, Turkey — Several Turkish media outlets were recently denied accreditation to cover the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, sparking concerns about press freedom in the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend the summit alongside other leaders from the NATO alliance, where discussions on defense spending and unity are expected to take place.

Notable Turkish media outlets, including Halk TV, Sozcu TV, Cumhuriyet newspaper, T24 news website, and ANKA news agency, were among those excluded from covering the event, according to the Turkish Journalists’ Association and other media solidarity groups.

The journalists affected by the accreditation denial were not provided with a reason for the decision and were not given the opportunity to appeal, raising concerns about transparency and freedom of the press in Turkey.

The Turkish Journalists’ Association emphasized the importance of allowing all media outlets to cover events of public significance, urging international organizations like NATO to uphold democratic values.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated that accreditation for the summit in Ankara is typically handled by the host country, in this case, Turkey. She emphasized the importance of media presence at major events for transparency and accountability.

While Turkish officials have not commented on the accreditation issue, the country has ramped up security measures ahead of the summit, with over 200 people detained for suspected links to extremist groups.

Opposition parties and human rights groups have criticized the detentions, calling for the release of those detained and urging NATO to ensure that democratic rights are respected during the summit.

The Turkish government has defended the detentions, stating that those arrested were involved in activities related to terrorist organizations.