Statement by Osman Kavala | 7 February 2025

The arrests we have been witnessing lately are deeply concerning. The case of Ayşe Barım is a striking example of distorting reality and manipulating public perception.  It was stated that one of the reasons for Barım's detention was the evidence found on her frequent communication with me regarding the Gezi events. However, it is impossible not to recognize from the telephone communication records in the possession of the prosecutor’s office that communication between myself and Barım began only after the Gezi protests had ended. My phones were tapped before, during, and after the Gezi protests. Thus, the prosecutor was well aware that no such conversations of the kind alleged had taken place.

The arrest of Barım, along with those of mayors, politicians, and journalists, reveal that there is no longer an effort to establish a legal link between the accusations and the actions of the accused or to present convincing evidence. This practice became well-established during the Gezi trial, and the Gezi trial was used to accustom the public to such practices. I believe the recent attempt to criminalize the Gezi protests serves the same purpose.

Osman Kavala, 7 February 2025