Skip to main content

Top Turkish court rejects appeal for release of philanthropist Kavala

Turkey’s Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal for the release of philanthropist Osman Kavala, ruling his more than three-year imprisonment without conviction did not violate his rights in contradiction to rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.
People, among them representatives of some of European countries' embassies, arrive at a court on December 18, 2020 in Istanbul to attend a hearing in the trial of jailed Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, on charges connected with a failed coup in 2016. - A Turkish court ordered civil society leader Osman Kavala to remain in jail pending trial on charges that rights groups say are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's bid to stifle dissent. The presiding judge rejected a defence reques

ISTANBUL — After more than three years in prison without conviction, Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala’s appeal for release was rejected by the nation’s Constitutional Court Tuesday, which ruled the prominent businessman’s detention had not violated his right to liberty and security.

The ruling extends Kavala’s imprisonment during court proceedings in which he faces espionage-related charges, ignoring a 2019 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for his immediate release as well as numerous calls since then by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on Turkey to implement the ECHR decision.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.