Status: 04/29/2022 1:00 pm
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Berlin. The reason is the condemnation of the cultural patron Kavala in Istanbul earlier this week. The verdict is another heavy burden on relations with Turkey.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Germany, Ahmet Başar Şen, because of the life sentence imposed on Turkish human rights activist and cultural patron Osman Kavala.
The “shocking verdict against Osman Kavala and the severe penalties against his co-defendants” are “another heavy burden on EU relations with Turkey, as well as our bilateral relations,” a spokesperson for the authority said. The federal government “once again made its position very clear” to the ambassador. The other EU countries were also called upon to summon Turkish ambassadors.
“Wait for the release of Kavala”
“We hope that Osman Kavala will be released immediately,” the spokesman said. “The European Court of Human Rights forced Turkey to do this.”
Kavala was sentenced to life in prison on Monday on charges of trying to overthrow the government in Istanbul. The verdict was heavily criticized internationally.
Mackerel denies accusations
Kavala has been held in the high-security Silivri prison near Istanbul for more than four years. He was originally arrested in 2017 on charges of funding and organizing the Gezi protests against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan four years earlier. In February 2020, a court acquitted him of this charge.
Kavala was released from prison at the time, but arrested again a few hours later – this time in connection with the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan and for allegations of espionage. Kavala denies the allegations.
Kavala case: Germany summons Turkish ambassador
Philip Brost, ARD Berlin, April 29, 2022 1:19 pm