Europe 1 with AFP 5:27 p.m., October 23, 2021

The Turkish head of state's statement follows a call from ten countries to "settle" the case of Osman Kavala, a Turkish businessman imprisoned for four years. These ambassadors "must know and understand Turkey," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "They will have to leave 'the country' if they no longer know it."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that ambassadors from ten countries including France, Germany and the United States who have called for the release of opponent Osman Kavala will be declared "persona non grata" . "I ordered our Minister of Foreign Affairs to settle as quickly as possible the declaration of these ten ambassadors as persona non grata," said the head of state during a trip to central Turkey, without however give a specific date. These ambassadors "must know and understand Turkey," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing them of "indecency". "They will have to leave 'the country' if they no longer know it," he added.

In a statement released Monday evening, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the United States called for a "just settlement. and rapid of the affair "Osman Kavala, Turkish businessman and patron who has become a pet peeve of the regime, imprisoned for four years without trial.

The Turkish head of state threatened Thursday to expel these ambassadors, without however taking concrete measures in this direction.

Turkey convened on Tuesday the ambassadors of these ten countries, deeming "unacceptable" their call for the release of Osman Kavala.

Targeted since 2013 by the Turkish regime

This 64-year-old opponent, a major figure in civil society, has been accused since 2013 by President Erdogan's regime of seeking to destabilize Turkey. He is particularly in the crosshairs for supporting anti-government protests in 2013 known as the Gezi movement. Then he was accused of having sought to "overthrow the government" during the 2016 coup attempt. In December 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered his "immediate release" - in vain.

Osman Kavala will remain in prison at least until November 26, an Istanbul court ruled in early October, despite European threats of sanctions against Ankara.

The Council of Europe recently threatened Turkey with sanctions, which could be adopted at its next session, from November 30 to December 2, if the opponent is not released by then.