European Parliament member Nacho Sanchez Amor visited imprisoned businessman Osman Kavala, who is currently serving an aggravated life sentence, in İstanbul’s Silivri prison on Wednesday (December 6). Kavala has been imprisoned since 2017 for his alleged role in 2013’s Gezi Park Protests. Kavala’s imprisonment has been a source of friction between Turkey and its European allies, with the Council of Europe issuing numerous calls for the businessman’s release.
Following Amor’s visit to Silivri, he posted a statement on social media regarding the meeting:
“I just met with Osman Kavala at Silivri prison. Such a remarkable person. I want to thank the Turkish Ministry of Justice and Foreign Ministry for facilitating this meeting. I hope this openness is a sign of a new period for Turkish-European relations, in the context of the recent EU Joint Communication on Turkey.”
The European Parliament released a statement on Amor’s visit, in which he was further quoted saying:
“It was touching to finally have the chance to meet Osman Kavala in person. Despite the numerous decisions and calls from the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe for Kavala’s release, he has now been imprisoned for about six years without legal justification.”
“I communicated that the European Parliament is decisive on this matter and will continue to push for his release. Once again, I call on the Turkish judiciary to heed the decision of the European Court of Human Rights and fulfill its international obligations.”
Kavala visit follows harsh words from Amor in Istanbul
Prior to visiting Kavala at Silivri prison on Wednesday, Amor made a statement in Istanbul in which he condemned Turkey’s “aggressive, threatening tone” in foreign policy, urging Ankara to adopt softer rhetoric in foreign policy and address issues such as Russian sanctions evasion and the status of Cyprus. “You are completely isolated,’ Amor said, “The only real friend you have is Azerbaijan.”
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Kavala’s imprisonment
Osman Kavala was arrested in late 2017 for his alleged involvement in 2013’s Gezi Park Protests, a major wave of demonstrations against then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s increasingly authoritarian rule. The investigation against Kavala, carried out in the aftermath of 2016’s failed coup d’etat attempt, charged the businessman and philanthropist with high treason and accused him of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government during the 2013 protests.
Kavala was then held for years in pre-trial detention, and his release was formally demanded by the European Court of Human Rights in 2020. In 2022, Kavala was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. His continued detention continues to be a major point of controversy between Turkey and its western allies.
Turkey’s accession to the European Union, pending since 1999, has been frozen since 2018 due to European concerns about Turkey’s human rights record.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
