Press. voanews.com
Ankara is facing
growing national and international criticism over Wednesday's arrest of Turkish
philanthropist and businessman Osman Kavala. Kavala - a leading member of
Turkey's civic society - was detained Wednesday night at Istanbul airport.
According to his lawyer, he is being held at Istanbul's counterterrorism
department.
U.S. State
Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert voiced concern on Thursday. "It's
just another example, right, of a lot of things taking place, of respected
civil society leaders, human rights defenders, journalists we've all followed
this story closely academics, also activists detained in that country,"
she said. "The detentions are often made without very little evidence,
very little transparency, and we consider that to be a very alarming trend in
that country."
The European
Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, Kati Piri, wrote on Twitter, "Very
disturbing news that Osman Kavala has been detained in Istanbul." Piri
added she would propose the European Parliament launch an urgent call for his
release. The European Union has been voicing growing concern over Turkey's
ongoing crackdown following last year's coup, which has seen over 60,000 people
arrested.
German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, attending a summit of EU leaders this week, described
developments in Turkey as very negative and said she would propose funding to
Turkey be curbed. Kavala has set up and funded projects to bridge deep social
and ethnic divides in Turkey and encourage cultural diversity. Human rights
groups nationally and internationally have voiced outrage over his arrest.
Political
scientist Cengiz Aktar said Kavala's arrest is a watershed moment. "He was
one of the main movers and shakers of the Turkish liberal civil society and
nothing will be like before since the custody of Osman Kavala," he said. I
think now the Turkish liberal civil society activist will be much move cautious
in their actions in Turkey. It actually confirms a very frightening trend
whereby the Turkish liberal civil society is targeted if not annihilated."
Ankara strongly
defends the ongoing crackdown, insisting it is facing a continuing threat from
conspirators seeking to overthrow the government. International pressure over
the crackdown is likely to grow with the trial beginning Wednesday (Oct. 25) of
leading Turkish members of Amnesty International and two European nationals
detained at a human rights meeting.