‘Demand for Osman Kavala’s release has grown louder’

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The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has made a call to Turkey about the final ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on arrested businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala and demanded his immediate release, as required by the related ruling.

CLICK - Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe: Implement ECtHR ruling on Kavala

Against this backdrop, Amnesty International has released a written statement emphasizing that "the demand for the release of civil society leader Osman Kavala grows louder." In her statement, Amnesty International's Turkey Campaigner, Milena Buyum briefly said:

"Almost three years after Osman Kavala was locked behind bars on absurd charges, the demand for his release has grown louder both in Turkey and around the world.

"It is hard to understate the seriousness of Kavala's continued unlawful imprisonment – almost a year since the European Court of Human Rights ruled for his release. Turkey has just one simple decision to make to comply with the Court's binding judgment – release Osman Kavala immediately and discontinue the criminal proceedings against him.

"Anything less will be yet a further breach of Osman Kavala's human rights and yet another shameful stain on Turkey's flailing justice system.

"By taking this decision, and also asking on Turkey to strengthen its judiciary against interference and ensure its independence, the Council of Europe is sending a key message of support to other critical voices and human rights defenders who have been victims of the same pattern of measures designed to silence them."

CLICK - ECtHR Ruling on Osman Kavala is Now Final

Detained on October 18, 2017, Osman Kavala was arrested on November 1, 2017. Announcing its ruling on him on December 10, 2019, the ECtHR concluded that his rights were violated by his imprisonment.

The ECtHR concluded that the European Convention on Human Rights was violated on the grounds that Kavala was arrested without any reasonable suspicion and with political motives and that the Constitutional Court did not examine his application within a reasonable period of time.

This ruling became final on May 12, 2020.

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)