Germany, Turkey summon envoys in row over Kavala verdict

BERLIN (AP) — 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. Western governments and rights groups strongly criticized the ruling by a Turkish court this week, 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 was summoned for talks Friday morning. Turkey retaliated by summoning the German ambassador in Ankara.