Human rights - Turkey accuses ECtHR of politicization in Kavala case
The Turkish Minister of Justice has accused the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of politicization in the case of imprisoned cultural promoter Osman Kavala. "We can all see what a political process is taking place there. Unfortunately, the European Court of Human Rights is discussing the issue outside of the legal dimension," said Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc in Ankara on Thursday. Earlier, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, Nacho Sanchez Amor, had visited Kavala in Istanbul's Silivri prison.
The ECtHR had repeatedly ordered the release of Kavala, who has been in prison for six years in connection with the anti-government Gezi protests. However, Turkey has ignored the rulings.
At the end of September, Turkey 's Supreme Court of Appeal confirmed a life sentence for attempted subversion against Kavala. Justice Minister Tunc called the largely peaceful Gezi protests of 2013 a violent "uprising".
The 66-year-old Kavala comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has supported numerous civil society projects in Turkey. He is the founder of the organization Anadolu Kültür. His conviction had provoked sharp international criticism.
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Source: www.stern.de
