Soros-linked Turkish businessman detained in İstanbul

Although it is not certain yet why the Turkish government has taken such a step, Kavala’s close links with some Europe- and US-based NGOs can possibly be a reason, given the increasing tension between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Western governments following the failed coup attempt in Summer 2016
Friday, 20 October 2017 06:44

Turkish police have detained Osman Kavala, a wealthy businessman and board member of several Soros-linked NGOs, at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on Thursday.

Kavala was taken to the counter-terrorism police department in İstanbul as he returned from a meeting held in the southeastern province of Gaziantep about a joint project to be undertaken with German Goethe Institute.

His lawyer, Ferat Çağıl, told reporters that they were unable to gather the reason of detention due to the confidentiality order. Çağıl said that a 7 days detention period is in force.

The police also confiscated computers of Kavala’s NGO, Anadolu Kültür, which says it campaigns for rights and cultural diversity including Kurdish issues.

Although it is not certain yet why the Turkish government has taken such a step, Kavala’s close links with some Europe- and US-based NGOs can possibly be a reason, given the increasing tension between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Western governments following the failed coup attempt in Summer 2016.

Kavala is famous for his liberal and pro-EU position in Turkish politics. Despite present controversies with Erdoğan they had supported him until recent years.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CENSURED THE DECISION

The arrest has caused immediate reactions from several NGOs and MPs based in the European Union.

Kati Piri, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, described the event as "very disturbing" and said she would ask EU lawmakers "to launch [an] urgent call for his release".
 
"Osman Kavala has worked tirelessly to build reconciliation, dialogue and support the rule of law in Turkey," added Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch.

Benjamin Abtan, president of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (EGAM), said, "The arrest of our friend Osman Kavala is a turning point in the oppression of the human rights movement" under Erdoğan.

Another statement was made by France's foreign ministry on Thursday, saying it was worried by the arrest of Kavala. "France like other European countries, regularly cooperate with Mr Kavala, who is a regular interlocutor to our embassy. France will be watching developments in this case very closely,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes Romatet-Espagne told reporters. The spokeswoman also called him "one of the most important and respected figures of the Turkish cultural scene and of civil society”.

Some commentators link Kavala’s arrest to the recent actions by President Erdoğan and his party against some figures of foreign NGOs, including Amnesty International’s Turkey branch. Erdoğan’s relations with European governments has deteriorated since the failed coup attempt of 2016.

CLOSE TIES WITH GEORGES SOROS AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Osman Kavala is the owner of Kavala Group, a conglomerate active in many sectors, and known for its business links with Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). A company linked to the holding had won tenders of the military for missile protection system improvement of F-16 fighter jets. Another company running under the Group, İki Nokta Bilişim Inc., provided geo-coding services to private and public institutions, including Istanbul Police Directorate and NATO.

Kavala also actively participates several pro-liberal NGOs as a board member, including Turkey branches of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and the Open Society Foundation. The latter is initiated by Georges Soros, a Hungarian-American billionaire and financial speculator known for his international conspiracies and supporting colourful revolutions.