The Turkish patron Osman Kavala, detained for four and a half years, was sentenced on Monday April 25 in Istanbul to life imprisonment. In its pleadings, the defense had demanded his acquittal for lack of evidence and denounced the relentlessness of power.
Accused of having tried to overthrow the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Osman Kavala will not be able to benefit from any remission of sentence, specified the judges whose verdict, announced after less than an hour of deliberation, was welcomed by boos in the courtroom and the crying of his loved ones. He was only acquitted of the espionage charge. His lawyers have indicated their intention to appeal.
Figure of Turkish civil society, Osman Kavala, 64, was accused of having sought to overthrow the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan via the financing of the anti-government demonstrations known as the “Gezi movement” in 2013 and during the coup. missed July 2016. He has always denied the charges against him.
“We expect Osman Kavala to be released immediately”German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement, denouncing a shutdown “in flagrant contradiction with the standards of the rule of law”.
This condemnation “shows maximum severity and ignores the decision of the European Court of Human Rights”denounced the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell on Twitter. “Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms is more important today than ever”he added.
The Turkish Court’s life sentence for Osman Kavala together with heavy prison sentences for other defendants show maximum harshness.
They ignore the decision of the European Court for Human Rights.
Respecting fundamental rights and freedoms is today more important than ever.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) April 25, 2022
The Turkish Association of Contemporary Jurists (CHD) called on lawyers to participate in a vigil outside the courthouse on Tuesday to protest against the verdict. “This government, which has descended on the country like a nightmare, continues to trample on the law”reacted for his part the leader of the main Turkish opposition party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.