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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- Germany joined other European countries in criticizing Turkey's handling of the Osman Kavala case, alleging further politicization of the proceedings by the Turkish government.
- The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg, France, has been engaged in the Osman Kavala case, a Turkish citizen currently serving a life sentence in Istanbul, accused of instigating the 2013 Gezi protests.
- The Turkish Minister of Justice, Yilmaz Tunc, voiced his concerns in Ankara about the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) politicizing the Kavala case, stating that the court was discussing the issue outside its legal dimension.
- international organizations, including the German government and the European Parliament, have voiced their concerns regarding the politicization of the Osman Kavala case, criticizing Turkey's disregard for the ECtHR's rulings to release Kavala from prison.
- Following the politicized trials of Osman Kavala and multiple other high-profile defendants, Germany and other EU countries have raised concerns about the independence of Turkish justice systems and their erosion of human rights in Turkey.
Source: www.stern.de