Turkish activist arrested at SAHA Expo for protesting BAE Systems over arms supply to Israel
Journalist and activist Adem Ozkose was reportedly choked, removed and detained by security guards while protesting BAE Systems at the Saha Expo fair in Türkiye. The protest was directed against the company’s role in supplying weapons to the Israeli army.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions due to Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza. The participation of BAE Systems at a government-backed exhibition has fueled public outcry, sparking a debate over Türkiye’s stance on defense cooperation and its alignment with foreign arms manufacturers.
The Saha Expo is held under the auspices of the Turkish presidency, with participation and support from several ministries, including the Foreign Ministry, the National Defense Ministry, the Industry and Technology Ministry and the Trade Ministry, along with other civilian and military institutions.
In response to escalating violence in Gaza and the high civilian toll from Israeli attacks, Türkiye suspended trade with Israel. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the trade suspension, stating, “There was a trade volume of $9.5 billion between us. We closed this door by disregarding this trade volume.” At the BRICS leaders’ summit on Thursday, Erdogan further called for an arms embargo against Israel.
Furthermore, Erdogan said that Türkiye has been making attempts to find a solution to this issue within the framework of the United Nations and has been advocating for a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel.
Stating that the number of countries supporting this call is increasing day by day, Erdogan expressed his hope that the “Alliance for Humanity” will succeed in this initiative and pave the way for lasting peace.
