Gezi detainee Osman Kavala: 'I want a retrial'

Businessman Osman Kavala, who was arrested on February 19, 2020, on charges of attempting to change the constitutional order of the Republic of Turkey by force and violence, has requested a retrial.

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Gezi detainee Osman Kavala: 'I want a retrial'

Osman Kavala, whose aggravated life sentence in the Gezi Park trial was upheld, has requested a retrial in a press statement.

Kavala included the following statements in his announcement:

"The retrial of cases that contain obvious human rights violations, where conviction decisions are made without being based on evidence, and which lead to innocent people remaining in prison for years, is a requirement of fundamental legal principles and respect for human rights.

The decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights are directly related to the right of every citizen, not just the applicants, to demand justice. Justice is necessary for everyone. The life and rights of every citizen are equally valuable."

WHY WAS OSMAN KAVALA ARRESTED?

Osman Kavala, who was acquitted in the trial where he was tried as the manager and organizer of the Gezi Park protests, was detained again within the scope of the 'July 15 investigation' on the same day he was acquitted, before he could even be released.

On February 19, 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Osman Kavala on the charge of “attempting to change the constitutional order of the Republic of Turkey by using force and violence,” on the grounds of the “severity of the crime and the risk of flight due to his acquittal in the Gezi trial.”

WHO IS OSMAN KAVALA?

Mehmet Osman Kavala (born October 2, 1957, in Paris) is a Turkish human rights defender, philanthropist, and businessman. He has supported many non-governmental organizations since the early 1990s. He has been the founder and chairman of the board of the non-profit Anadolu Kültür institution since 2002.

He was awarded the European Archaeological Heritage Prize in 2019 for his efforts to protect cultural heritage at risk in Turkey.

Also in 2019, he was awarded the "Ayşe Nur Zarakolu Freedom of Thought and Expression Award," given by the Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch to individuals who contribute to democratic society work and are under pressure regarding freedom of expression. In October 2023, he was awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.

Kavala, who has been imprisoned since November 1, 2017, was acquitted in the Gezi Park trial and is being tried within the scope of cases related to the July 15 coup attempt.

On February 11, 2021, the US administration demanded that Turkey release Osman Kavala immediately, stating, "The deceptive charges against Kavala, his ongoing detention, and the continued delays in the conclusion of his trial, including the merging of cases against him, undermine the rule of law and respect for democracy."

On April 25, 2022, he was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment.

News Source: 12punto