Germany, Turkey summon envoys in row over Kavala verdict

Germany and Turkey have summoned each other's ambassador over a row sparked by a Turkish court's decision to sentence a prominent Turkish civil rights activist and philanthropist to life in prison

BERLIN -- Germany and Turkey on Friday summoned each other's ambassadors over a row sparked by a Turkish court's decision to sentence a prominent Turkish civil rights activist and philanthropist to life in prison.

Western governments and rights groups strongly criticized this week's ruling which found Osman Kavala guilty of attempting to overthrow the government with mass protests in 2013. The court in Istanbul also sentenced seven other defendants to 18 years in prison each for “aiding” the attempt.

Christofer Burger, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry, said Turkey's envoy to Berlin was summoned for talks Friday morning. Turkey retaliated by summoning German Ambassador Juergen Schulz, Turkey's state run Anadolu Agency reported.

Anadolu said a senior Turkish official told Schulz that Ankara "rejected attempts to interfere in the Turkish judiciary and politics.