Turkey to banish 10 Western ambassadors, Erdogan says (updated)
23/10/2021 15:17
(Adds quote, background)
ISTANBUL, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan said on Saturday he had ordered the foreign ministry to
declare 10 ambassadors from Western countries 'persona non
grata' for calling for the release of philanthropist Osman
Kavala.
Kavala has been in prison since late 2017, charged with
financing nationwide protests in 2013 and with involvement in a
2016 failed coup. He denies the charges.
In a joint statement on Oct. 18, the ambassadors of Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,
Finland, New Zealand and the United States called for a just and
speedy resolution to Kavala's case. They were summoned by the
foreign ministry, which called the statement irresponsible.
"I gave the necessary order to our foreign minister and said
what must be done: these 10 ambassadors must be declared persona
non grata at once. You will sort it out immediately," Erdogan
said in a speech to a crowd in northwest Turkey's Eskisehir.
Kavala was acquitted last year of charges related to the
protests, but the ruling was overturned this year and combined
with charges in another case related to the coup attempt. Rights
groups say his case is emblematic of a crackdown on dissent
under Erdogan.
(Reporting by Daren Butler
Editing by Peter Graff)
((daren.butler@tr.com; +90-212-350 7053; Reuters Messaging:
daren.butler.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))