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The European Court of Human Rights orders the immediate release of activist Osman Kavala from Turkish prison

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Turkey to immediately release Osman Kavala, a human rights activist and philanthropist who has been detained since 2017. The court ruled that Kavala's continued detention was unlawful and that his rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, and freedom of association were violated. Kavala was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 for his role in the 2013 Gezi Park protests and a failed 2016 military coup. The court found that his aggravated life sentence was 'inhuman and degrading treatment' and declared his conviction null and void. The ruling highlights a systemic problem in Turkey where the judiciary is often used to target political opponents and human rights defenders. While the Turkish government maintains that its courts are independent, the court noted that structural shortcomings affect the independence of the judiciary. Amnesty International has called for the Turkey's authorities to act to free Kavala immediately and unconditionally.

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