Ten Western ambassadors demanding the release of Turkish activist Osman Kavala will be declared “persona non grata”, Turkish President Regis Taipa Erdogan said on Saturday.
“I have instructed the Foreign Minister to declare these ten ambassadors ‘persona non grata’ as soon as possible,” Erdogan said.
Erdogan did not specify a specific date for the expulsion of the ambassadors.
“They need to know and know Turkey,” the president added, accusing Western ambassadors of “indecency.” “They have to leave here, when they no longer know Turkey.”
The 64-year-old businessman and philanthropist Kavala has been in prison since 2017 and has not yet been brought to justice.
The ambassadors of the United States, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden on Monday issued a joint statement saying the detention of Kavala casts a shadow over Turkey and called for a swift and fair settlement of his case.
Kavala has been charged with protests against the government in 2013 and an unsuccessful military coup in 2016.
In an interview with AFP from prison last week, Kavala said Erdogan was using him to give the impression that opposition activities in Turkey, including the 2013 protests in Istanbul, were being organized by foreign forces.
“Because I am accused of being involved in this conspiracy, possibly organized by foreign forces, my release would weaken the fabrication, and the government does not want that,” Kavala said.-
In February 2020, Kavala was acquitted of charges related to the 2013 protests against the government’s plans to build in central Istanbul next to Taksim Square, destroying one of the city’s largest green areas, Gezi Park. But soon after, he was arrested again and charged with involvement in a failed coup in 2016.
The Council of Europe has issued a final warning to Turkey to comply with the 2019 order of the European Court of Human Rights on the release of Kavala pending trial.
If Turkey does not do so by the next European Council meeting, scheduled for 30 November to 2 December, the European Council could vote to open the first disciplinary case against Turkey. The proceedings could result in the suspension of Turkey’s voting rights and even its membership of the Council of Europe.
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