Two Turks journalists were arrested and were taken into custody yesterday, Monday, on the eve of the start of the NATO summit in Ankara, according to an announcement by the media outlet where they worked and the MLSA human rights organization.

Journalist Kayhan Ayhan, who has been covering the trial of Constantinople Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and his team at City Hall on charges of “corruption,” was arrested yesterday, Monday night at his home on charges of “spreading fake news” and will be brought before a court today, announced the media outlet where he works, the opposition website Bir Gun.

“Although all the questions posed to Mr. Aykhan at the police station concerned his work and the legal proceedings (editor’s note: against the mayor), the investigation launched by the Prosecutor’s Office concerns terrorist crimes,” Bir Gun clarified. Imamoglu, who has been in custody since March 2025, has been on trial since March 9.

Furthermore, journalist Hazar Dost was taken into custody, also in Istanbul, for his participation in a 2018 protest, and a legal proceeding “had led to his acquittal,” the MLSA clarifies.

“Dost was arrested while shopping at his neighborhood grocery store. He was taken into custody in connection with a case involving alleged participation in a protest in 2018.”

The prosecution had appealed his acquittal, but “the prosecutor requested that he be detained, rather than summoning him to testify.” The journalist is scheduled to appear in court today, according to the bar association.

Arrests have increased tenfold, targeting all circles, as well as individual voices critical of the government, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes, today and tomorrow, Wednesday, the heads of state and government of NATO for a summit.