Erdogan orders removal of 10 ambassadors, including US envoy

ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that helium had ordered 10 overseas ambassadors who called for the merchandise of a jailed philanthropist to beryllium declared persona non grata.

The envoys, including the U.S., French and German representatives successful Ankara, issued a connection earlier this week calling for a solution to the lawsuit of Osman Kavala, a businessman and philanthropist held successful situation since 2017 contempt not having been convicted of a crime.

Describing the connection arsenic an “impudence,” Erdogan said helium had ordered the ambassadors beryllium declared undesirable.

“I gave the acquisition to our overseas curate and said ‘You volition instantly grip the persona non grata declaration of these 10 ambassadors,’” Erdogan said during a rally successful the occidental metropolis of Eskisehir.

He added: “They volition recognize, recognize and cognize Turkey. The time they don’t cognize oregon recognize Turkey, they volition leave.”

The diplomats, who besides see the ambassadors of the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and New Zealand, were summoned to the overseas ministry connected Tuesday.

Ad

A declaration of persona non grata against a diplomat usually means that idiosyncratic is banned from remaining successful their big country.

Kavala, 64, was acquitted past twelvemonth of charges linked to nationwide anti-government protests successful 2013, but the ruling was overturned and joined to charges relating to a 2016 coup attempt.

International observers and quality rights groups person repeatedly called for the merchandise of Kavala and Kurdish person Selahattin Demirtas, who has been jailed since 2016. They accidental their imprisonment is based connected governmental considerations. Ankara denies the claims and insists connected the independency of Turkish courts.

The European Court of Human Rights called for Kavala's merchandise successful 2019, saying his incarceration acted to soundlessness him and wasn't supported by grounds of an offense. The Council of Europe says it volition commencement infringement proceedings again Turkey astatine the extremity of November if Kavala is not released.

Ad

The existent U.S. ambassador, David Satterfield, was appointed successful 2019. The information of his replacement, Jeff Flake, was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee connected Tuesday.

After Erdogan's bid was reported, the State Department said successful a statement, “We are alert of these reports and are seeking clarity from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.