Turkey's Western allies call for release of philanthropist Kavala

Kreka SA

18/10/2021 20:55

ISTANBUL, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Embassies of Turkey's Western
allies, including the United States and Germany, called on
Monday for the "urgent release" of philanthropist Osman Kavala,
in an intervention Ankara described as "unacceptable".
    Kavala has been jailed for four years without being
convicted, despite the European Court of Human Rights calling
for his release.
    He was acquitted in 2020 of charges related to nationwide
protests in 2013 but the ruling was overturned this year and
combined with charges in another case related to a coup attempt
in 2016.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N2N8139 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2R41UB
    Rights groups have described the trials against Kavala as
symbolic of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip
Erdogan.
    The embassies called for a just and speedy resolution to
Kavala's case on Monday, four years after he was jailed.
    "The continuing delays in his trial, including by merging
different cases and creating new ones after a previous
acquittal, cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of
law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system," they
said.
    "Noting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on
the matter, we call for Turkey to secure his urgent release,"
the embassies said.
    The embassies of Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands,
Norway, Sweden and the United States of America shared the
statement on Twitter.
    The statement also mentioned France, Finland and New Zealand
but Reuters could not independently verify them. 
    In response, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey is
a democratic state of law.
    "Ambassadors making a recommendation and suggestion to the
judiciary in an ongoing case is unacceptable," he said on
Twitter. 
    "Your recommendation and suggestion cast a shadow on your
understanding of law and democracy," Soylu said.
    The Council of Europe has said it will begin infringement
proceedings against Turkey if Kavala is not released.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2QJ15O
    The next hearing in the case against Kavala, who has denied
all charges, and others will be held on Nov. 26.

 (Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Giles Elgood)
 ((ali.kucukgocmen@thomsonreuters.com , @alikucukgocmen;
+905319306206; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging:
ali.kucukgocmen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))