ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany on Friday summoned the Turkish envoy in Berlin over the jailing of a Turkish civil rights activist and philanthropist who was handed a life sentence over controversial charges, causing an outcry in the international community.
Rights groups and western countries heavily criticized Ankara’s ruling which found Osman Kavala guilty of attempting to topple the government. He had been locked up without conviction for more than four years.
A spokesman for the German foreign ministry, Christofer Burge, told reporters Turkey’s ambassador was summoned for talks, adding that Berlin had urged other European Union countries to take a similar diplomatic step, reported Associated Press.
Kavala was arrested in November 2017 on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order of Turkey and espionage. He was accused of financing a 2013 protest in Istanbul and was acquitted, but was re-arrested and charged with taking part in the 2016 attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The mass protests of 2013 began over plans to demolish Gezi Park in Istanbul, which quickly spiraled into broader protests against the government.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, drawing criticism.
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the ruling "stands in stark contrast to the rule-of-law standards and international obligations to which Turkey is committed as a member of the Council of Europe and an EU accession candidate,” while calling for his immediate release.
The United States said it was “deeply troubled and disappointed” by the decision.
The court also sentenced seven other defendants to 18 years in prison for “aiding” Kavala’s “attempt” to overthrow Erdogan’s government.
Kavala’s plight led to soaring tensions between Turkey and the West.
