Human rights defender Osman Kavala has been in prison for 2,758 days as of May 20, 2025.
After being detained in Gaziantep on October 18, 2017, Kavala was brought to Istanbul and arrested on November 1 on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” and “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” and sent to Silivri Prison.
Although he was acquitted in 2020 in the case related to the Gezi Park protests, he was detained again the same day on coup attempt and espionage charges and then arrested again.
In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Kavala’s immediate release, but this decision was not implemented by Turkey. Due to the disregard of the ECtHR ruling, the Council of Europe initiated a violation procedure against Turkey.
On April 25, 2022, the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court sentenced Kavala to aggravated life imprisonment for “attempting to overthrow the government”. In 2023, the Court of Cassation upheld this verdict.
Kavala’s request for a retrial was unanimously rejected on May 15, 2025. Kavala is still being held in Silivri Prison.
20.05.2025
Diken