Businessman Osman Kavala has completed his ninth year in Silivri Prison. He was arrested on November 1, 2017, on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” in connection with the Gezi protests and “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” in connection with the July 15 coup attempt.
On August 25, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Kavala's right to a fair trial had been violated and issued a decision calling for his release. However, on October 13,e Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court declined to implement the ECHR ruling and rejected Kavala's request for a retrial.
“I was wrong”
Osman Kavala issued a statement marking the ninth anniversary of his imprisonment. He said that when he was first arrested, he had thought it was a mistake that would be corrected shortly. “I was wrong,” he said.
Kavala, who remains imprisoned on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” in connection with the Gezi protests and “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” in connection with the July 15 coup attempt, drew attention in his statement to the overturning of acquittals in the Gezi trial and the lengthy prison sentences imposed on him.
Kavala said:
“After the Gezi trial, which ended in acquittals because there was no evidence that I had committed a crime, my detention was continued on the basis of fabricated espionage charges, despite the ECHR ruling. The acquittal verdicts were overturned, and heavy sentences were imposed on me and the other defendants.”
The full text of Osman Kavala's statement is as follows:
“Today marks the completion of my ninth year of residence in Silivri. When I was first arrested, I thought it was a mistake that would be corrected in a short time. I was mistaken.
“Following the Gezi trial, which ended in acquittals because there was no evidence that I had committed a crime, my detention was continued on the basis of fabricated espionage charges, despite the ECHR ruling. The acquittal verdicts were overturned, and heavy sentences were imposed on me and the other defendants.
“Outlandish allegations were put forward in an attempt to compensate for the absence of evidence supporting the charges against me. It was alleged that I had incited the Taksim Solidarity Platform—which was made up of more than twenty political parties and organizations, and nearly one hundred trade unions, professional chambers and associations—to stage an uprising, and that I had provided for every need of the demonstrators who were supposedly attempting to overthrow the government.
“Because all of this was evident, the ECHR, in its latest ruling, characterized the actions that led to the restriction of my liberty as a clear denial of justice. This finding means that not only legal rules but also ethical principles were disregarded. One consequence of this is the devaluation of human life.
“I was 60 years old when I entered prison. Since then, I have spent virtually all the time during which I could have been actively involved in civil society, as well as a significant portion of the years in which I could have lived a healthy life, behind bars.
“Nevertheless, despite all the difficulties we are experiencing, I believe I will be able to witness developments toward the establishment of the rule of law in my country.
“If, as I hope, lessons can be learned from the Gezi trial and the injustice to which I have been subjected, that will be a source of consolation for me.”
