The Turkish head of state spoke to reporters on the plane returning home after a multi-day tour of West Africa.
Erdogan said: I told our foreign minister that we cannot have the luxury of hosting these ambassadors in our country.
The embassies of the United States, Germany, France, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand issued a joint statement on Monday marking the fourth anniversary of Kavala’s arrest.
In the statement, delegates wrote that the delay in the litigation against Kavala was casting a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency. The embassies argued that the procedures should be concluded fairly and quickly, and Turkey was asked to immediately release Kavala In accordance with the relevant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The Turkish Foreign Ministry was still protesting the announcement on Monday evening asked the heads of the ten delegations concerned.
In response to the issue, Erdogan said in a press statement on Thursday: Why do ten ambassadors make this statement? Is it your job to teach Turkey like this? Who are you?
Are you abandoning criminals, murderers and terrorists in your country? America, Germany, ever did that?
Ask the Turkish President
For you, the judiciary is independent but not for us? Finally, Erdogan concluded that our judiciary shows the finest examples of independence.
Osman Kavala is currently undergoing two trials in Turkey, accompanied by widespread international attention, because the man has been in prison for four years without being convicted.
Kavala was first arrested in 2017 in connection with organizing demonstrations in Gezi Park. He and his companions and others Accused of trying to overthrow the Turkish government. Despite being acquitted by the court in February 2020 for insufficient evidence, a few hours later, the military on July 15, 2016 v. Kavala A lawsuit has also been filed for an attempted coup.
In addition, proceedings at the Gezi Park protests resumed in May this year after an appeals court overturned previous acquittals in January and the lower court ordered a new trial. The next hearing on the case will be on November 26.
Kavala’s second lawsuit over the 2016 takeover attempt began in December 2020. He was thus charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and political and military espionage.
In December 2019, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey should release the businessman.
Last month, the Council of Europe, of which Turkey has been a member almost from the start, indicated that it would initiate abuse proceedings against Ankara if it did not release Kavala, in line with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.
Cover photo: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pays a farewell visit with outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Turkey at a news conference after his talks at Huber Palace in Istanbul on October 16, 2021. MTI / EPA / Erdem Sahin
