Ankara: Turkey has summoned ambassadors from 10 countries, including Germany and the United States, after a Turkish diplomatic source said on Tuesday that it had called for the release of a civil society leader.
Paris-born Philanthropist and Activist Usman KavalaThe 64-year-old has been in jail without conviction since 2017 in a case that escalated tensions with West.
NS Turkish activist faces a string of charges involving 2013 Anti-Government Demonstration And a failed military putt in 2016. Kavala denied the allegations.
Rights groups and some Western governments see his detention as a symbol of the President Recept Tayyip ErdoganGrowing intolerance towards dissent.
In a statement on Monday, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the US called for an “equitable and speedy resolution of their case”.
“The continuing delay in his trial … casts a shadow on the respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system,” he said.
Embassies called on Turkey to follow the decisions of the Council of Europe, a human rights body that joined in 1950.
The Council of Europe has warned that it will initiate disciplinary proceedings against Turkey “in the event that (Kavala) is not released before the next meeting of the human rights body on 30 November-2 December”.
Kavala’s next court hearing is expected on November 26.
A Turkish source told AFP the ambassador was due to arrive at the foreign ministry in Ankara on Tuesday morning.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu On Monday late night, Twitter targeted the statement of the embassies.
“It is not acceptable for ambassadors to make recommendations or suggestions to the judiciary for an ongoing case,” Soylu said.
“Your recommendations and suggestions cast a shadow on your understanding of law and democracy.”
Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said on Twitter late Monday that “no ambassador had the right to make recommendations or suggestions in our courts”.
“It is ignorance of boundaries and limits that casts a shadow on the rule of law,” Gul said.
Paris-born Philanthropist and Activist Usman KavalaThe 64-year-old has been in jail without conviction since 2017 in a case that escalated tensions with West.
NS Turkish activist faces a string of charges involving 2013 Anti-Government Demonstration And a failed military putt in 2016. Kavala denied the allegations.
Rights groups and some Western governments see his detention as a symbol of the President Recept Tayyip ErdoganGrowing intolerance towards dissent.
In a statement on Monday, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the US called for an “equitable and speedy resolution of their case”.
“The continuing delay in his trial … casts a shadow on the respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system,” he said.
Embassies called on Turkey to follow the decisions of the Council of Europe, a human rights body that joined in 1950.
The Council of Europe has warned that it will initiate disciplinary proceedings against Turkey “in the event that (Kavala) is not released before the next meeting of the human rights body on 30 November-2 December”.
Kavala’s next court hearing is expected on November 26.
A Turkish source told AFP the ambassador was due to arrive at the foreign ministry in Ankara on Tuesday morning.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu On Monday late night, Twitter targeted the statement of the embassies.
“It is not acceptable for ambassadors to make recommendations or suggestions to the judiciary for an ongoing case,” Soylu said.
“Your recommendations and suggestions cast a shadow on your understanding of law and democracy.”
Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said on Twitter late Monday that “no ambassador had the right to make recommendations or suggestions in our courts”.
“It is ignorance of boundaries and limits that casts a shadow on the rule of law,” Gul said.
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