Turkish court extends detention of philanthropist Osman Kavala
Kavala is charged with espionage and "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” in connection with the failed 2016 coup.
Turkish philanthropist and businessman Osman Kavala appeared in an Istanbul courtroom Friday in a case rights organizations say is emblematic of Turkey’s crackdown on civil society.
Kavala was first arrested in November 2017, accused of organizing the nationwide Gezi Park protests that erupted in Istanbul in 2013. In February, the 63-year-old Kavala was acquitted of the protest-related charge, but rearrested hours later on charges of spying for the United States and aiding in the attempted 2016 coup that sought to topple Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan. Kavala denies all the allegations.
Kavala faces life in prison for “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” and 20 years if found guilty of espionage. The Istanbul court Friday ordered Kavala’s continued detention until his next hearing scheduled for Feb. 5.
A prominent civil society leader, the Paris-born Kavala ran an organization that promotes cross-cultural collaboration in the arts and helped found US billionaire George Soros' Open Society Foundation in Turkey.
