ANKARA (Reuters – Turkish President Tayyip Turkey chaired a meeting of the cabinet to consider exiling ambassadors from the United States, nine allies and other countries. This would be Ankara’s most severe diplomatic rift in 19 years.

Erdogan claimed that he ordered the persona non-grata designation of the envoys for the release Osman Kavala (a prominent philanthropist) who was held for four years under charges of funding protests and participating in a coup attempt.

While the Foreign Ministry is yet to execute this order, they could approve it at Monday’s meeting.

These ambassadors are NATO partners, trade partners, NATO members, and European Union members. Turkey is still keen to join the Union, despite increasing differences.

“The entire situation is grave, however we have learned that the affected countries have not been notified of any action,” said a representative from the European Commission.

Investor worries about Turkey’s economy have increased following Erdogan’s unexpectedly reduced interest rates by 200 point last week, despite the inflation reaching nearly 20%.

In response to tensions rising, the lira fell to 9.85 against the dollar. It has also lost nearly a quarter its value this year.

Canada, Denmark and France called the United States last week to request a speedy and just resolution of Kavala’s case and his “urgent release”.

The foreign ministry summoned them last week.

Mustafa Sentop (Parliament Speaker) stated that Turkey’s constitution forbids the discussion of continuing court cases by any party, not even Turkish politicians. He also said that the statements made by the envoys were a clear and unrespectful interference.

“Those who view the president’s position on this matter as unprecedented should see…that ambassadors have shown impudence,” he said to a Tekirdag forum.

Many embassies from the United States, Canada and New Zealand have stated that they are adhering to the diplomatic convention which prohibits them from interfering with the internal affairs of host nations.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry claimed that it did not receive any notice from Erdogan regarding the expulsion of its Envoy. It also stated that the ministry had been in touch with France and the United States during the weekend.

Kavala is a businessman who contributed to the formation of civil society organizations. He was charged with funding nationwide protests in 2013, and with involvement in a failed coup attempt in 2016. While his trial is ongoing, Kavala has been detained and denied the charges.

Human rights groups consider his case emblematic of Erdogan’s clampdown on dissidents. Kavala, who said Friday that he wouldn’t attend his trial due to the impossibility of fair hearing following remarks made by President Erdogan on Friday, claimed his case was emblematic.

Erdogan said that the Ambassadors in Question would not allow terrorists to be released in their countries.

Kavala was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights to be immediately released two years ago. The court stated there was no probable suspicion that Kavala committed an offence and found that Kavala’s detention was intended to silence him.