ECtHR to Hear Case of Osman Kavala in Accelerated Procedure

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In response to the application submitted by the attorneys of rights advocate and businessperson Osman Kavala on June 8, 2018, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has decided to hear the case of Kavala in an accelerated procedure.

Questions to Turkey

The ECtHR has directed a series of questions to Turkey for defence.

As reported by the Strasbourg correspondent of Deutsche Welle Kayhan Karaca, the court has especially focused on the compatibility of the provisional arrest of Kavala with the European Convention on Human Rights and the legal precedents of the ECtHR.

Solid evidence has been requested

Questioning the legality of Kavala's arrest, the ECtHR has requested detailed information as to the concept of "strong doubt about committal of a crime based on solid evidence."

The court has also asked whether there was sufficient evidence in his case file at the time when the verdict of arrest was given for Osman Kavala.

"Reasonableness of period of detention"

Questioning the compatibility of Kavala's period of provisional arrest with the condition of trial "in a reasonable period", the ECtHR has also requested detailed information as to whether Kavala has the right of objection to the legality of his arrest.

The court has also demand defence from the government of Turkey regarding the allegations that the arrest of Kavala was "political."

CLICK - Osman Kavala Applies to ECtHR Due to Long Detention Without Trial

What happened?

Anadolu Kültür Executive Board Chair, human rights advocate and businessperson Osman Kavala was taken into custody in the evening hours on October 18 at İstanbul Atatürk Airport upon his return from a meeting of a project planned to be realized in cooperation with Goethe Institute in Antep.

He was targeted by some pro-government newspapers following his detention.

Speaking at the weekly group meeting of his party, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to Kavala as the "Soros of Turkey", mentioning his name and said:

"Some try to deflect the truth by means of praises attributed to him such as 'He was a good citizen, a media member, an NGO representative'. The identity of this figure called 'Soros of Turkey' has been uncovered. That was his name that came up in Consulate General [investigation]. All connections have surfaced. And there is the same person behind the incidents in Taksim. You see those people again behind funds transfer to certain places. Who are you trying to fool?"

His detention also sparked criticism on international level.

US thinker and professor in linguistics, Noam Chomsky, United States Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert and European Parliament Rapporteur for Turkey Kati Piri denounced Kavala's detention and demanded that he be released immediately.

On October 31, a group of 35 academics, writers and researchers coming together under the guidance of the European Network on Political Group Analysis Jean-François Bayart, addressed an open letter to President Erdoğan for Kavala's release.

About Osman Kavala

Kavala was born in Paris in 1957. He graduated from Department of Economy at Manchester University.

He has been working as executive at Kavala Group since 1982.

He participated in the foundation of Turkey's one of the most prominent publishing houses, İletişim Publications, with Murat Belge.

He served as member of administrative boards of business institutions and NGOs such as Turkey-Poland Business Council, Turkey-Greece Business Council, and Center for Democracy in Southeast Europe.

Kavala is a member of Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) Administrative Board, Open Society Institute Consulting Board, and supporter of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, History Foundation and Diyarbakır Culture House.

(HK/SD)