Kavala's 'retrial' request rejected!

The 'retrial' request of Osman Kavala, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in the Gezi Park trial and whose legal status has been frequently discussed in recent days, has been unanimously rejected by the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.

The panel of judges that was to evaluate the retrial request in the Gezi Park trial had changed yesterday. The previous panel had also rejected the retrial request.

Osman Kavala, who filed the application through his lawyers, had recalled in a statement last week that the sentences in the Gezi Park trial were handed down despite a lack of concrete evidence.

Calling for the implementation of the Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings, Kavala had stated, "Retrying the cases is a requirement of respect."

Kavala has the right to appeal the decision.

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 is 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 efforts and are under pressure for 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 U.S. 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