Osman Kavala says his trial has become a 'theater of injustice'

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Utku Çakırözer visited imprisoned rights defender Osman Kavala and journalist Ahmet Altan yesterday (February 14).

Charged with orchestrating the 2013 Gezi Park protests, being involved in the 2016 coup attempt and espionage, Kavala has been remanded in custody for 39 months.

His imprisonment continued despite a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision in May 2002 for his immediate release.

In his last hearing on February 5, the cases concerning the coup attempt and the Gezi protests were merged.

"The lawsuits about me have been far from being legal processes since the beginning," he told MP Çakırözer. "Unfortunately, it has become a theater play at this point. Unlawfulness has turned into a theater of injustice."

He also expressed solidarity with Boğaziçi University students, who have been protesting the appointment of a new rector from outside the university's academic community since early January.

"Like my spouse Ayşe Buğra, like Boğaziçi University students, I feel sad for my country," he said.

After his visits, Utku Çakırözer said, "As long as Kavala, Ahmet Altan and other political prisoners are kept in dungeons, it's not possible to talk about the rule of law in Turkey."

"Osman Kavala has been in prison for about four years despite a verdict of acquittal, two verdicts for his release, an ECtHR decision and a Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. Kavala's arrest is the litmus paper of democracy in Turkey.

"Ahmet Altan has been in prison for four years just because of his articles. His file is arbitrarily kept pending at the Court of Cassation." (TP/VK)