Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered his foreign minister to expel the ambassadors of 10 countries, including Germany, the United States and France.
On Saturday, while addressing a crowd in Eskisehir, the President said that he had already given Turkey’s foreign minister the necessary order for these ten ambassadors to be declared persona non grata as soon as possible.
The continued detention of Parisian-born philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala by Tayyip’s government has been bought to attention by different countries via their delegates, and also the Council of Europe, the top human rights watchdog in the continent, has issued its final warning to Turkey to release Kavala, pending trial in compliance with a 2019 European Court of Human Rights order.
Who is Osman Kavala?
Osman Kavala is a Turkish businessperson, activist, philanthropist and prisoner. He was detained at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport on 18 October 2017, with some of the newspapers that are in favour of the Erdogan government accused him of being a “business tycoon with a shady background” and having contacts with the “Gulenist Terror Group” (FETO).
On 1 November 2017, he was arrested on various charges, including the coup attempt. Osman Kavala has been in Silivri Prison since 1 November 2017, adding to some 1455 days spent behind bars.
After the court ruling on 20 March, he was arrested three times and acquitted twice for the same crime related to Article 309.
Adhering to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ observations published on 3 September 2020, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Human Rights Watch, and the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project demanded the immediate release of Kavala.
In September 2021, the State was given a period until December 2021 to release Kavala before beginning infringement proceedings against Turkey as per the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The demand for Kavala’s release was supported by ten embassies, namely the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, and Sweden, whose ambassadors were subsequently declared “persona non grata” in a statement by President Erdogan.
Erdogan on the actions of Ambassadors
The President harshly spoke against the actions of the ambassadors. He commented on the issue during a speech made in the northwestern city of Eskisehir.
His criticism of the delegates was received with applause and cheers from the crowd. He said that they (foreign ambassadors) would know and understand Turkey.
The day they do not know and understand Turkey, they will leave, a statement which can be observed as justifying his decision to declare the envoys as “persona non grata”.
Erdogan did come strongly against the decision of the ambassadors to support the case of Osman Kavala jointly.
The ambassadors demanded a just and speedy resolution to Kavala’s issue and his “urgent release”. They were summoned by the foreign ministry, which called the statement irresponsible.
The President said that it was irresponsible for the delegates to interfere and put pressure on the Turkish judicial system by bringing an ongoing case.
He also said the “special interest” shown in the case of Osman Kavala and similar circumstances in Turkey is an example of the insincere and double-standard approach shown. He further added that the ambassadors should stay within the responsibilities of their duties.
What does this new scenario mean?
The relationship between the United States and Turkey has constantly been declining in recent times. With the decision to expel its ambassador, the relation between the countries may not be patched up anytime soon concerning the current scenario.
Similarly, the connection between Turkey and its West allies are also not so great recently. Tensions have been rising on both ends. The ongoing case of Osman and the difference in the point of view between Turkey and Europe are significant factors.
Lira on the all-time decline
There are also reports suggesting that the Turkey President has done similar gimmicks to change people’s attention and media from major incidents by provocative words.
Similarly, it can be considered an attempt to cover up that Lira is on its highest decline in the market. He may not be necessarily planning to expel the ambassadors.
