Europe’s democracy and human rights-promoting body said Friday it is initiating a rare disciplinary process against Turkey after it failed to comply with a court's ruling to release jailed businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.
Last week, a court in Istanbul extended Kavala’s imprisonment, defying the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that the businessman was unjustly jailed.
The Council of Europe warned Turkey in September that it would begin infringement proceedings unless Kavala was freed before its meeting this week. The lengthy process could lead to the suspension of Turkey’s voting rights or membership in the 47-nation human rights body.
The council said in a statement that its Committee of Ministers concluded that by failing to free Kavala, "Turkey is refusing to abide by the court’s final judgment in this case.”
Turkey’s possible suspension from the Council of Europe would further isolate Ankara, threatening a key link to Europe.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry called on the Council of Europe to respect Turkey's ongoing legal proceedings involving Kavala and to “avoid taking further steps, which would amount to interference in the independent judiciary.”
“The message from the Committee of Ministers to Turkey is crystal clear," said Nils Muiznieks, Amnesty International's director for Europe. “Turkey’s failure to ensure the immediate release of Osman Kavala and end his politically motivated prosecution is an unacceptable breach of the country’s human rights obligations.”
“After more than four years behind bars on politically motivated charges, he must be allowed to finally return home to his family," Muiznieks said.
Kavala has been incarcerated for more than four years without having been convicted of a crime, prompting claims of political persecution against the businessman amid international criticism of Ankara’s crackdown on opponents.