Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declares ten foreign ambassadors persona non grata after they issued a statement calling for the release of a jailed philanthropist and activist. The ambassadors and envoys stated earlier this week that the case of Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has been imprisoned since 2017 despite not being charged with a crime, must be resolved. President Erdogan condemned this call for action, stating that the ambassadors lack an understanding of Turkey.

According to CNN, the US State Department has said that they are “aware of these reports and are seeking clarity from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” President Erdogan has appeared inflexible in his stance, with Reuters reporting that he described the order to expel the diplomats as “necessary” and because “they do not know and understand Turkey, they will leave.” Most ambassadors’ home governments are backing them. Reuters quoted Norwegian ministry spokesperson Trude Maaseide as saying that their ambassador “has not done anything that warrants an expulsion” and that Norway will “continue to call on Turkey to comply with democratic standards and the rule of law to which the country committed itself under the European Human Rights Convention.” 

Kavala’s imprisonment flies in the face of free speech, a hallmark of a democratic society. A president who would imprison advocates for social reform is the antithesis of a president invested in peace, equity, and freedom. President Erdogan may think that imprisoning dissidents is maintaining the peace, but it is only doing so at the cost of his citizens’ freedoms and wellbeing. The arbitrary detainment of activists must be condemned, and the ambassador’s condemnation of Kavala’s imprisonment demonstrates their commitment to defending those who advocate for an equitable system that will benefit all people, not just those favored by the government. 

The ambassadors, most of whom hail from Western nations, are not alone in their condemnation of Kavala’s imprisonment; according to CNN, the European Court of Human Rights called for Kavala’s release in 2019, alleging that his imprisonment was purely to silence him. Kavala is widely regarded as an admirable figure. He has worked to promote gender equality and is a staunch supporter of human rights. Since 2002, he has focused on sponsoring cultural centers in underdeveloped regions of Turkey, and the organizations he sponsors and collaborates with have been vocal about their support of pluralistic, democratic societies. Kavala was initially arrested in 2017 on multiple charges and has been accused of breaking Turkish law by conspiring to abolish the Republic of Turkey. Despite an acquittal in 2020, chief prosecutors in Istanbul demanded that he remain incarcerated.

Kavala’s imprisonment and President Erdogan’s response to the subsequent criticisms warrant skepticism and anger from the international community. Arbitrary detainments are obvious obstacles to true, lasting peace, especially when the detainee is in prison for their efforts to inspire reform and democratic change. The ten diplomats who confronted this injustice used their position of power to shine a light on this important issue, and the international community must carry on their work.