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Turkey summons ambassadors of 10 countries after call for Philanthropist's release

The US News reported according to Reuters, state-owned Anadolu agency said on Tuesday that Turkey's foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the United States, Germany and France, over a statement calling for the urgent release of philanthropist Osman Kavala.
The statement, shared by some of the embassies on Monday, called for a just and speedy resolution to Kavala's case, four years after he was jailed, saying the case "cast a shadow over respect for democracy."
According to the report, Kavala, a businessman, has been in jail in Turkey for four years without being convicted, despite the European Court of Human Rights calling for his release.
It said, he was acquitted last year of charges related to nationwide protests in 2013, but the ruling was overturned this year and combined with charges in another case related to a coup attempt in 2016.

Rights groups have described the trials against Kavala as symbolic of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan.
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The embassies said in the statement: "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 statement said: "Noting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter, we call for Turkey to secure his urgent release."
The other countries named in the statement were Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand.
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In response, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey is a democratic state of law. He said on Twitter: "Ambassadors making a recommendation and suggestion to the judiciary in an ongoing case is unacceptable."
Soylu said: "Your recommendation and suggestion cast a shadow on your understanding of law and democracy."
Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said diplomats need to respect laws and ambassadors cannot make suggestions to courts.
The Council of Europe has said it will begin infringement proceedings against Turkey if Kavala is not released.
The next hearing in the case against Kavala, who has denied all charges, and others will be held on Nov. 26.
Source: usnews
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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