‘It is simply incomprehensible why Osman Kavala is still behind bars’

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Bärbel Kofler, Germany's Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Foreign Office, has released a written statement regarding the continued arrest of rights defender and businessperson Osman Kavala, who has been behind bars in Silivri Prison for 1,000 days as of today (July 27).

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Published on the official website of Germany's Foreign Ministry yesterday, the full statement of Kofler reads as follows:

"I simply cannot comprehend why Osman Kavala has still not been released from prison. The fact that he remains in custody, though cleared in the Gezi Park trial and despite the decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), raises serious doubts about the validity of rule‑of‑law principles in Turkey. In its judgment, the Court in Strasbourg stated that the detention was designed to keep Osman Kavala quiet.

"I look with increasing concern at the status of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Turkey. Osman Kavala and Turkey's civil society can count on my continued solidarity." (HA/SD)