The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday criticized Turkey's courts, describing a "systemic problem" in their handling of prominent philanthropist Osman Kavala's case, which the court said highlighted the detention and prosecution of political opponents, human rights defenders, and journalists.
Kavala, 68, founder of a nonprofit organization focused on peace and dialogue, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2022. The charges stemmed from his alleged involvement in 2013 protests and a 2016 coup attempt.
Human rights advocates and opposition groups contend that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has used the judiciary to target critics. The European court, reiterating a call for Kavala's release first made in 2019, stated that his conviction should be considered "null and void" and that Turkey had violated several of his fundamental rights.
The court noted that the violations "revealed structural shortcomings which affected the guarantees of independence and impartiality of the judiciary, and which were likely to facilitate the exerting of direct or indirect influence by the executive branch on certain judicial decisions, particularly in cases with a sensitive political dimension."
The Turkish government maintains that its justice system is impartial and independent. President Erdogan has previously dismissed the European court's rulings, stating Turkey would not recognize those who do not recognize Turkish courts.
Kavala was initially detained in 2017, accused of financing protests aimed at overthrowing the government four years prior. Although acquitted in 2020, he was promptly rearrested on charges related to Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt. His acquittal was overturned, and his case was merged with the one concerning the coup attempt, leading to his life sentence in April 2022.
This case contributed to a diplomatic dispute in 2021 when Erdogan threatened to expel 10 foreign ambassadors, including those from the U.S., France, and Germany, after they publicly called for Kavala's release.