The Turkish court in which the case of Osman Kavala was heard, ignoring the western reactions, decided today Monday that he should remain in prison, extending his detention. The detention of Kavala has been going on for more than four years without being convicted …
The court ruled by a majority that Kavala should remain in prison for the duration of his trial. He scheduled the next hearing for February 21 and said his detention would be re-evaluated on February 13. Kavala was arrested on October 18, 2017.
Human rights groups have said the case was politically motivated and part of a crackdown on dissent under President Tayyip Erdogan. The government denies this and claims that the Turkish courts are independent.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) requested the release of Kavala at the end of 2019 as there is no reasonable suspicion that he committed a crime, judging that his detention is intended to silence him.
The Council of Europe told Turkey in December that it was preparing “infringement proceedings” for the non-release of Kavala, a move that could lead to a suspension of Ankara’s participation in the House.
Emma Sinclair-Webb of Human Rights Watch wrote on Twitter that the Council of Europe gave Turkey one last chance to release Kavala ahead of its February 2 meeting, at which it will resubmit the case. to the ECtHR, initiating proceedings.
Erdogan threatened in October to expel the ambassadors of ten countries, including the United States, Germany and France, which reiterated the ECHR decision to release Kavala.
In 2020, Kavala was acquitted of charges for demonstrations that took place across the country in 2013 focusing on Gezi Park in Istanbul. The decision was overturned last year and combined with charges in another case related to a coup attempt in 2016. He denies the charges.
The 64-year-old Kavala is being tried along with 51 others in a combination of three separate cases for the 2013 demonstrations and the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan and his government.
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