Turkish medical leaders are arrested after protesting against Syria incursion

The senior leadership of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) is either in detention or being hunted by police after authorities issued arrest warrants for 11 of its administrators including its chair, Raşit Tükel.1 Several hours after the first dawn raids eight of the 11 doctors were in custody, the ministry said, while police operations continued in eight provinces to find the others.

The Ankara public prosecutor’s office said that those apprehended would be questioned on suspicion of “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation,” “praising crimes and criminals,” and “inciting the public to hatred or hostility”—referring to a statement by the TTB on 24 January in which doctors called for a halt to Turkey’s …