A British woman arrested in Turkey after protesting during the NATO summit in Ankara has launched a hunger strike, as her lawyers raise concerns over possible human rights violations.
Ella Vivier, a 26-year-old neuroscience graduate from Brighton, was detained on Sunday evening ahead of the summit, despite reportedly not being informed of the legal grounds for her arrest.
According to her legal representatives in Turkey, Suheyla Oguz and Senem Doganoglu, Ms Vivier was arrested alongside three other international protesters at around 9pm on Sunday. The group began a hunger strike the following day in protest over their detention.
The lawyers said Ms Vivier was not told why she was being held when she was taken into custody.
“At the time of her detention, no reason or legal basis for the detention was explained to her,” they said.
Ms Vivier, who works as a support worker for vulnerable children, travelled to Ankara after Turkish political organisations, trade unions and civil society groups called for demonstrations during the NATO summit.
Although she has not been formally charged with any criminal offence, Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into allegations of “initiating provocative actions during the NATO summit”.
Her legal team argues that the alleged offence is not recognised as a criminal offence under Turkish law.
Campaign group Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) claimed that around 500 Turkish nationals have also been arrested in connection with demonstrations surrounding the summit.
The organisation called on the UK Government to reconsider its relationship with the Turkish government and demanded the release of all those detained.
A spokesperson for the group said the right to protest, particularly against NATO policies, must be protected and urged British authorities to take a stronger stance.
Meanwhile, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing consular support to the family of the detained British national.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said officials are in contact with the Turkish authorities regarding the case.
The investigation into Ms Vivier’s detention remains ongoing, while concerns continue to grow over the treatment of protesters arrested during the NATO summit in Ankara.
