Turkey's foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the United States, Germany and France, on Tuesday (October 19) over what it said was an "irresponsible" statement that called for the urgent release of philanthropist Osman Kavala.
The statement, shared by some of the 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."
The Turkish businessman has been in prison since late 2017 without being convicted, in what rights groups say is symbolic of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) called for Kavala's immediate release in late 2019 over a lack of reasonable suspicion that he committed an offence, ruling that his detention served to silence him.
He was acquitted last year of charges related to nationwide Gezi Park protests in 2013, but the ruling was overturned this year and combined with charges in another case related to a coup attempt in 2016.
The other parties to the statement were Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand.
The foreign ministry said it told ambassadors on Tuesday that it rejected the "unacceptable" statement aimed to pressure Turkey's judiciary and also politicize judicial processes.
The diplomats were warned that they should remain within their responsibilities as part of international agreements, the foreign ministry added.
Responding to the statement on Monday, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey is a democratic and lawful state.
The next hearing in the case against Kavala, who has denied all charges, and others will be held on Nov. 26.
REUTERS