US Urges Turkey To Release Jailed Academics Tied To Activist Osman Kavala - State Dept.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th November, 2018) The United States urges Turkey to release academics and journalists detained over ties to the Anatolia Culture Association founded by jailed human rights activist Osman Kavala, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press release.

Earlier, Turkish authorities arrested more than a dozen people including academics tied to Kavala, local media reported. Kavala, a philanthropist and civil rights leader, was arrested last October for allegedly taking part in an attempt to overthrow the government in 2016.

"The United States is very concerned about Turkey's detention today of academics, journalists, and civil society activists with ties to the Anatolia Culture Association," Nauert said on Friday. "We urge Turkey... to release those held arbitrarily."

Turkish authorities have detained thousands of journalists, diplomats, judges, members of the military and human rights activists after the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016.