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Six European Activists Arrested in Istanbul Amid Rights Observations

2/20/2026

27 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Six European activists from Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Russia were arrested in Istanbul on February 19 after meeting with the Office of People’s Rights, according to their lawyer Naim Eminoglu.
Their passports were confiscated.
They planned to observe the well-type prison system.
A Turkish journalist for Deutsche Welle was arrested the same day for allegedly spreading false news and insulting the president, drawing calls for his release.

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Story summary

Six European activists from Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Russia were arrested in Istanbul on February 19 after meeting with the Office of People’s Rights, according to their lawyer Naim Eminoglu.
Their passports were confiscated.
They planned to observe the well-type prison system.
A Turkish journalist for Deutsche Welle was arrested the same day for allegedly spreading false news and insulting the president, drawing calls for his release.