Turkey's president has ordered 10 ambassadors to be declared 'persona non grata' for backing jailed activist

The transfer comes a number of days after Turkey summoned the ambassadors of the U.S., Germany, France, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden over their joint assertion calling for Kavala's launch on the fourth 12 months of his detention.

"The continuing delays in his trial, including by merging different cases and creating new ones after a previous acquittal, cast a shadow over respect for democracy, the rule of law and transparency in the Turkish judiciary system," the joint assertion stated. "Noting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter, we call for Turkey to secure his urgent release."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry referred to as the joint assertion is "irresponsible" and stated it rejected what it referred to as makes an attempt to affect the courtroom system.

Kavala has been in detention and not using a conviction since 2017. He was acquitted on fees final 12 months associated to the 2013 Gezi Park protests. The verdict was overturned, and new fees had been introduced towards him for his alleged involvement within the 2016 tried coup.

"Who are you? What is it? Leave Kavala. Do you leave the bandits, murderers, terrorists in your own country?" Erdogan stated to journalists on Thursday.

"Why do 10 ambassadors make this statement? Those who defend this [George] Soros leftover are trying to get him released. I told our Minister of Foreign Affairs that we cannot afford to host them in our country. Is it your place to teach such a lesson to Turkey?"

"We will not be intimidated," he stated. "Freedom for Osman Kavala."

The Austrian Foreign Ministry says it "deeply regrets" Turkey's announcement to declare then 10 ambassadors "persona non grata."(*10*)In a tweet Saturday, the ministry referred to as for a "fair and timely resolution" of Osman Kavala's case and for the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights' judgments.