Prove
Tuncay Babali Broke the Law or Free Him
News from the Middle East
Forum
August 25, 2016
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PHILADELPHIA – Aug. 25, 2016 – Turkish ambassador Tuncay Babali, a Middle
East Quarterly contributor, has been arrested for alleged
participation in the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt in Turkey.
He is one of Ankara's most accomplished young diplomats, having
served, among other government positions, as director of the department
of human resources of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, counselor
to the Turkish embassies in Washington, D.C., and London, and ambassador
to Canada (2012-14).
Babali, who holds an MA degree from the University of London and a PhD
from the University of Houston, has established himself as an authority
in the fields of energy economics and geopolitics as well as Eurasian
security. In 2009-10, he was a fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead
Center for International Affairs. His article, "Turkey
at the Energy Crossroads," appeared in the Spring 2009 issue of
the Middle East Quarterly, pp. 25-33.
Eleven days after the failed coup, Babali was sacked from his position
– alongside fellow ambassador Gürcan Balık, chief advisor to former
foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and scores of lower-level diplomats –
as part of the government's massive purge of civil servants allegedly
linked to the Fethullah Gülen movement. On August 18-19, Babali and Balık
were jailed, together with former ambassador to Costa Rica Ali Findik, as
the government embarked on an unprecedented purge of hundreds of foreign
office diplomats.
The Middle East Forum is deeply concerned by the recent arrests of
Babali and tens of thousands of other Turks and believes that the current
purge goes far beyond a reasonable and legitimate response to the
abortive coup while casting serious doubt on Turkey's commitment to
democracy and the rule of law. It, therefore, urges the Government of
Turkey to provide incontrovertible evidence in public of Amb. Babali's
criminal activity or to free him immediately.
For immediate release
Contact: Gregg Roman, Director
Middle East Forum
Roman@MEForum.org
215-546-5406, ext. 104
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