British woman held in Turkey before Nato protests

1 hour ago

News image — Vivier's protest is said to be in light of "no reason or legal basis" being given for her detention

Reuters A wide view of the Nato leaders' summit in Ankara on 8 July 2026 shows delegates seated around a large circular conference table inside a modern meeting hall. Large screens display Nato branding, national flags line one side of the room and individual desks are arranged beneath a circular ceiling light. — Vivier's protest is said to be in light of "no reason or legal basis" being given for her detention

A woman from Brighton is on hunger strike in Turkey after being detained by police ahead of protests linked to a Nato summit.

Ella Vivier, 26, a neuroscience graduate who works as a support worker with vulnerable children, travelled to Ankara before the leaders' summit, which was attended by world leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump.

Her legal representatives in Ankara, Suhelya Oguz and Senem Doganoglu, said Vivier was detained on Sunday with three other protesters. They said all four went on hunger strike on Monday and Vivier was given "no reason or legal basis for the detention".

The Turkish authorities have been approached for comment.

Vivier went to Ankara after calls by political groups and trade unions to oppose the summit, which started on Tuesday.

Her lawyers said: "We were only later informed by the authorities that the investigation concerns an allegation of membership of an illegal organisation."

They said they had seen no evidence supporting the allegation and no factual basis for the accusation had been disclosed.

Vivier had not been charged with any crime, they added.

They said she was under investigation on suspicion of "initiating provocative actions during the Nato summit".

'Family being supported'

Vivier's partner, who asked not to be named, described the detention as "unlawful" and said: "No-one, except the lawyer, has been allowed [to talk to her]. She's been held in a counter-terror cell."

The partner said the embassy had also been unable to speak to her.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are supporting the family of a British woman detained in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities."

A spokesperson for Vivier's MP, Sian Berry, said the Brighton Pavilion Green Party MP was aware of the case and was in contact with Vivier's family.

The spokesperson said Berry and her team had contacted the FCDO and were doing what they could to assist Vivier and her family.

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