Turkish court rules to keep philanthropist Kavala in prison

ISTANBUL – A Turkish tribunal ruled Monday to support salient Turkish civilian rights activistic and philanthropist Osman Kavala successful prison, contempt his much than 4 years successful pre-trial detention.

The proceeding took spot arsenic a Council of Europe deadline that could trigger infringement procedures looms. The European Court of Human Rights ruled successful 2019 that Kavala’s rights had been violated and ordered his release. But Turkey has repeatedly refused to bash so.

Kavala, who is successful Silivri situation connected the outskirts of Istanbul, did not enactment successful the proceeding successful enactment with an October connection that helium would nary longer be trials via video league due to the fact that helium didn't person fatih the tribunal would present a just trial.

Kavala, 64, is accused of financing nationwide anti-government protests successful 2013, attempting to overthrow the authorities by helping orchestrate a coup effort 3 years aboriginal and espionage. He denies the charges, which transportation a beingness condemnation without parole.

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He was acquitted successful February 2020 of charges successful transportation with the 2013 Gezi Park protests. As supporters awaited his release, Kavala was rearrested connected caller charges. The acquittal was aboriginal overturned and linked to charges relating to the 2016 coup attempt, which the Turkish authorities blames connected the web of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who denies immoderate ties to the coup.

That proceedings is present portion of a merged lawsuit involving 51 different defendants, including fans of the Besiktas shot nine who were acquitted six years agone of charges related to the Gezi protests earlier that determination besides was overturned. Kavala is the lone jailed defendant.

Kavala's lawyer, Koksal Bayraktar, had demanded his release.

“His continued imprisonment for 1,539 days is the continuation of lawlessness identified by the European Court of Human Rights," Bayraktar said. "End this lawlessness contiguous truthful our lawsuit gets his freedom.”

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Taksim Solidarity, a radical defending the tiny Gezi Park successful cardinal Istanbul, said earlier the 3rd proceeding that the peaceful 2013 protests, which were based connected law rights allowing citizens to request democracy, couldn't beryllium tarnished done the judiciary.

In October, Kavala's lawsuit besides caused a diplomatic situation betwixt Turkey and 10 Western countries, including the United States, France and Germany, aft they called for his merchandise connected the 4th day of his imprisonment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly disdains Kavala, accusing him of being the “Turkish leg” of billionaire U.S. philanthropist George Soros, whom Erdogan alleges has been down insurrections successful galore countries. He threatened to expel Western envoys for meddling successful Turkey's interior affairs.

The European Court of Human Rights’ 2019 determination said Kavala's imprisonment aimed to soundlessness him and different quality rights defenders and wasn't supported by grounds of an offense.

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The Council of Europe, a 47-member bloc that upholds quality rights, notified Turkey successful December that it intended to notation the lawsuit to the tribunal to find whether Turkey refused to abide by last judgments, which are binding. It called connected Turkey to merchandise Kavala instantly and reason the transgression procedures without delay. It asked Turkey to taxable its views by Jan. 19 earlier a Feb. 2 league of the council.

Kavala is the laminitis of a nonprofit organization, Anadolu Kultur, which focuses connected taste and creator projects promoting bid and dialogue.

The adjacent proceeding is scheduled for Feb. 21.

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