Osman Kavala remains in prison, so a Turkish court decided on Friday extending the detention of the philanthropist whose imprisonment risked triggering a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the United States and other Western countries.
Kavala has been in jail awaiting trial for more than four years: many in Turkey consider him a political persecution of Ankara. “This trial is yet another blatant episode in the relentless political persecution for which the European Court has condemned Turkey,” said Nils Muiznieks, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe. “When a state shows such contempt for its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the Council of Europe must act and initiate an infringement procedure.”
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The Council of Europe warned Turkey in September that it would initiate proceedings against the country if Kavala was not released. The process could lead to the suspension of Turkey’s membership or voting rights, further isolating Ankara and threatening relations with Europe.
Ambassadors from 10 countries, including the United States, Germany and France, last month called for Kavala’s immediate release in line with a 2019 European Court of Human Rights ruling. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel the ambassadors before backing off.
The decisions of the European Court are binding on its members and two years ago the court asked for Kavala’s release pending trial, saying his detention was not supported by evidence of a crime.
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Kavala, 64, is accused of funding the 2013 anti-government protests in Getzi Park and helping orchestrate a coup attempt three years later. He has always denied the charges, which involve life imprisonment without the possibility of parole: Kavala did not attend Friday’s hearing at the High Criminal Court.
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