One word for Osman Kavala

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An online campaign has been launched for arrested businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala ahead of his 1,000th day behind bars. As part of the campaign, 1,000 words describing Kavala are compiled.

The campaign entitled "On the 1000th Day, 1 Word for Osman Kavala" (Osman Kavala için, 1000. Günde 1 Sözcük) has been prepared for July 27, which will mark the 1,000th day of Kavala's arrest. The campaign asks its contributors: "Which word would you use to describe Osman Kavala?"

'We protest his cruel, irrational detention'

The organizers of the campaign make the following call:

"July 27, 2020 marks the 1,000th day of Osman Kavala's imprisonment.

"We stand with Osman Kavala, whether we love and respect him as friends, or learned about his fate only later on. We protest his illegitimate, cruel and irrational detention on its 1,000th day, by calling on you to come up with one single word that describes him best.

"Which word would you use to describe Osman Kavala?

"Please write your answer below. We will publish the results, together with the most frequently used words, on his 1000th day after his arrest. If you want to remain anonymous, you do not need to add your name or email below. You can simply write the word itself.

"Deadline to contribute: July 23, 2020."

Click here to join the campaign

About Osman Kavala

Businessperson Osman Kavala, who was on his way back from Antep, was taken into custody at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on October 18, 2017.

On November 1, 2017, it was announced that Kavala was arrested on charges of "attempting to change the Constitutional order and to overthrow the government." In the official document referring him to court with a request of arrest, it was alleged that he was the head and financier of Gezi.

The sixth and final hearing of the lawsuit filed into Gezi resistance was held at the İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court in Silivri on February 18, 2020.

Announcing its ruling after the statements of defendants and their attorneys, the court board has ruled that Osman Kavala, Mücella Yapıcı, Can Atalay, Tayfun Kahraman, Ali Hakan Altınay, Yiğit Aksakoğlu, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, Çiğdem Mater Utku and Mine Özerden shall be acquitted as "there was no concrete and material evidence as to the committal of the offenses charged." The court has also ruled that businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala, the only arrested defendant of the case, shall be released.

Osman Kavala was the only arrested defendant in 16-defendant Gezi Trial, which started on June 24, 2019. Having been acquitted in this trial, Kavala was arrested again, this time on charge of "political or military espionage." Kavala is still held in Silivri Prison in İstanbul. (EMK/SD)