Statement from Amor after meeting with Osman Kavala
European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor visited Osman Kavala, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in the Gezi Park trial, today at the Silivri Prison, now known as Marmara Prison.
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Nacho Sanchez Amor stated in a post on his social media account, “I met with Osman Kavala at Silivri Prison. What a remarkable person. I would like to thank the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for facilitating this meeting. I hope this cooperation will be a sign of a new era in Turkey-EU relations in the context of the European Union’s (EU) latest Joint Communication on Turkey.”
FIRST TIME PERMISSION GRANTED
In a written statement regarding the visit, the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs said, “Turkey Standing Rapporteur Nacho Sánchez Amor visited Osman Kavala at Marmara Prison (formerly known as Silivri Prison). This is the first time a Member of the European Parliament has been allowed to visit him. MEP Sánchez Amor has been in Turkey since December 2 and has also visited Istanbul and Kayseri.”
The statement continued with the following remarks from Amor:
“The Turkish Government’s decision to allow this visit is an important step in the right direction. I would like to thank the Turkish Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs for the facilities provided. I hope this openness is a sign that a new era in EU-Turkey relations is beginning in the context of the latest Joint Communication from the Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President, and that further steps will be taken to address the situation of the rule of law and fundamental rights in the country.
It was very moving for me to finally meet Osman Kavala in person. Despite the clear rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the repeated calls by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, he has been held in prison for over 6 years without any legal justification. I conveyed to him the solidarity of the European Parliament and its determination to continue demanding his release.
Once again, I call on the Turkish authorities to fully implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Osman Kavala and other related cases, and to comply with the country’s international obligations as the best way to restore the full potential of our relations.”
"AN IMPORTANT STEP"
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteurs for the monitoring of Turkey, British parliamentarian John Howell and Latvian parliamentarian Boriss Cilevics, had visited Kavala on January 13, 2023, and stated in their subsequent written statement, “Having the opportunity to meet with Mr. Kavala, who has been held in prison since 2017 despite two ECHR rulings, is an important step forward in the dialogue between the Council of Europe and the Turkish authorities.”