Statement by Osman Kavala upon completion of his 7th year in prison

I have now completed my seventh year in prison. During this time, I have endured a judicial process that entirely violated the presumption of innocence, relying on baseless accusations and false statements.

In 2019, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that there was no evidence indicating my involvement in any criminal activity. Following the acquittals in the Gezi trial for the same reason, political influence over the judiciary intensified. The laws were manipulated to bypass the ECtHR’s decision and overturn the acquittals. An espionage charge was fabricated, entirely inconsistent with the legal definition of this crime.

This charge was also politically exploited; the practices of enemy law, which disregard the human rights and the lives of those deemed “other”, were reinforced. In this way, although it was known that I had no involvement in any act of violence, I was given the heaviest sentence; and in the same vein, four other individuals arrested in the Gezi trial were sentenced to 18 years in prison. When the Court of Cassation upheld these sentences, I realized that judicial authorities believe that they have the power to hand out punishments to those they find undesirable. Even though they know those people did not commit any crime.

I believe that the prevalence of an understanding in the judiciary that does not value human life also reflects an erosion concerning fundamental ethical values, which is seen in many similar cases that have incited public outrage.

I have spent most of my life I could have actively lived after turning 60 in prison. I could not share my life with my wife or spend those years with my mother and loved ones. The civil society work that I believe fosters a culture of peace and reconciliation, which we have been pursuing for years, has been obstructed.

To maintain my sense of citizenship while in prison, I sought to fulfill my responsibility to warn the public by sharing my observations about the injustices I experienced or witnessed.

It is a source of consolation for me that Gezi Park, which introduced me to trees from the earliest memories of my life and taught me the importance of sharing public spaces with others, continues to be a park enjoyed by citizens of all ages and backgrounds.

However, the true consolation for me will be seeing a progress toward the rule of law in my country. I believe that this will happen and that I will be able to feel that I am truly free.

Osman Kavala

November 1, 2024