Controversy over detained activists: Erdogan threatens to expel ambassadors

The conflict over Turkish human rights activist Kavala is on the rise. In an incendiary speech, head of state Erdogan threatened ten Western ambassadors with deportation. He had earlier requested Kavala’s release.

According to media reports, the head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, threatened to expel the German and American ambassadors and eight other ambassadors to Western countries, in a dispute over Turkish human rights activist Osman Kavala.

“We may not have the luxury of welcoming them into our country,” Erdogan said, according to a report by state news agency Anadolu. “Is it your place to teach Turkey such a lesson? Who are you already?” Continued Erdogan. Germany or the United States simply did not let “rogues, murderers and terrorists” go free.

EMGR seeks early 2019 release

The embassies of Germany, the US and eight other countries in Ankara published a call on Monday in which they called for Kavala’s release in the context of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). He has been in jail for four years without a conviction. After this the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the respective ambassadors.

Among the appointed diplomats were representatives of France and the Netherlands, in addition to the Germans and the United States. ECTHR had already requested Kavala’s release in 2019. Turkey has so far ignored the decision, although as a member of the Council of Europe it is obliged to actually implement it.

Kavala gets life imprisonment

Kavala was originally arrested in 2013 on charges of funding and organizing anti-government Gezi protests in Istanbul. In February last year, a court acquitted him of the charge. Kavala was released from prison after two and a half years in prison, but was arrested again a few hours later – this time in connection with the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan and espionage charges.

In January this year, an appeals court overturned the first acquittal. Kavala faces a life sentence if convicted of espionage charges. Kavala’s next test is scheduled for November 26.