News Center — Turkey periodically witnesses large-scale arrest campaigns targeting activists in civil society organizations and women’s associations, as part of tighter security measures imposed by the authorities on public gatherings.

Turkish authorities carried out a security operation in Istanbul that resulted in the arrest of 11 women, within the framework of an investigation conducted by the public prosecutor into a women’s association known as Kaktus. Arrest warrants were issued against them, and simultaneous raids were carried out at 19 different locations, leading to their detention.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement on Tuesday, December 16, explaining that following the review of digital materials seized during searches at the Kaktus Association, affiliated with the Free Young Women’s Organization (ÖGK), arrest warrants were issued for 21 individuals on charges of “membership in an organization.”