Now the sentence is final: the Court of Cassation Turkish confirmed the verdictaggravated life sentence for the philanthropist Osman Kavalasentenced in 2022 for “Attempt to overthrow the government” after participating in the anti-government protests of Gezi Parkin 2013. In addition to his, the Court of Cassation also confirmed the 18-year prison sentences for the other defendants in the case: Cigdem Mater, Can Atalay, My Ozerden And Tayfun Kahraman. “The Gezi trial is an egregious abuse of the justice system, proof that the courts obey the presidency,” he further protested Emma Sinclair Webbthe director for Europe and Central Asia of Human Rights Watch.
The case of the Turkish entrepreneur and human rights defender is just the latest case persecution And repression the opposition in the president’s country that has been going on for at least ten years Recep Tayyip Erdoğanwith thousands of arrests and hundreds of convictions for anyone deemed critical of the regime, on charges of participating in the 2013 street demonstrations or being part of organizations supporting the regime Kurdish thing or proximity to the Hizmet movement Fethullah GulenHe is considered the mastermind of the failed coup attempt in 2016.
The philanthropist, who has been in prison since the end of 2017, is known for his commitment to the rights of Turkish minorities and is viewed as an opponent by President Erdogan. The Turkish head of state will be at the end of 2021 kicked out ten Western diplomats, including the ambassadors of the US, France and Germany, for calling for the activist’s release on the fourth anniversary of his arrest. The European Council started one Infringement proceedings against Ankara for failing to release Kavala as requested by the European Court of Human Rights.