Turkish Foreign Ministry Summons Ambassadors of 10 Countries
The Turkish Foreign Ministry comes over a statement on Osman Kavala, who is currently imprisoned in Turkey over his involvement in the 2006 coup attempt, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries on Monday, including the United States and France.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the countries whose ambassadors were summoned are the United States, Germany, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Norway, and New Zealand, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The summoning of the ambassadors comes over a statement on Osman Kavala, a Turkish prisoner detained over the 2016 coup attempt.
The statement issued by some embassies on Monday called for a 'just' and 'speedy' resolution to Kavala's case, four years after he was jailed, saying the case "cast a shadow over respect for democracy."
In response, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey is a democratic state of law. "Ambassadors making a recommendation and suggestion to the judiciary in an ongoing case is unacceptable," he said on Twitter.
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, demokratik, hukuk devletidir.
— Süleyman Soylu (@suleymansoylu) October 18, 2021
Büyükelçilerin yürüyen bir davada yargıya tavsiye ve telkinde bulunması kabul edilemez.
Tavsiye ve telkininiz, hukuk ve demokrasi anlayışınıza gölge düÅŸürmektedir. https://t.co/eJ8K84vq7u
"Your recommendation and suggestion cast a shadow on your understanding of law and democracy," he added.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price had urged Turkey to release the Turkish businessman immediately, stressing the necessity of the release.