Turkey says doesn’t need US permission to prosecute citizen

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says his country doesn’t need Washington’s permission to prosecute its citizens, the latest swipe in an escalating feud with the United States over the arrest of a US consulate employee.

“Turkey is a state of law. Does the fact that he who committed a crime or is accused of a crime is (a member) of an American mission give him any privileges? Does that mean we have to seek the permission of the (US) gentlemen? Do we need their consent?” Yildirim says in a speech to parliament.

“It is very inappropriate behavior to punish the citizens. It’s behavior that doesn’t befit a great country like the United States,” he continues. “We invite the United States to act with more common sense.”

The US yesterday suspended most visa services for Turkish citizens after the arrest of Metin Topuz, a Turkish staff member at the US consulate in Istanbul, on charges of espionage and alleged ties to Gulen’s movement, saying it wanted to reassess Turkey’s commitment to the safety of US personnel. Turkey retaliated by halting visas services in the US.

US Ambassador John Bass said in a video message released late Monday that Turkish authorities had failed to show any evidence against Topuz and that he had insufficient access to a lawyer. He also said the arrest “raised questions whether the goal of some officials is to disrupt the long-standing cooperation between Turkey and the US”

— AP