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Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala was sentenced to life in prison without the right to appeal after being found guilty of trying to overthrow the government by funding protests against it.
The 64-year-old had remained in the cell for 4 and a half years without being convicted. He has never admitted the charges against him in connection with the Gezi protests, which began as small demonstrations in an Istanbul park in 2013 and turned into mass anti-government protests across the country.
The court also sentenced seven other people to 18 years in prison each for aiding and abetting an attempt to overthrow the government and ordered their arrest. In his final words before the verdict, Kavala said the prosecutor’s request for a life sentence was based on “evidence that is not evidence” and constituted “a murderous act through the use of the judiciary”.
The US State Department responded to this punishment by expressing deep concern and disappointment. “His unjust sentence runs counter to respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. We once again call on Turkey to release Osman Kavala, in accordance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as to release all detainees arbitrarily. “The people of Turkey deserve to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms without fear of retribution,” the DASH statement said.
Kavala had played a major role in the development of Turkish civil society before being arrested in 2017, from a publishing house that aimed to foster social change after the 1980 Turkish coup to raising awareness through its Anadolu Kultur organization. .
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