European court says the Turkish judiciary has a ‘systematic problem’ in ruling on philanthropist
The European Court of Human Rights has accused Turkey's judiciary of a "systemic problem" in the case of prominent philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has been imprisoned for life without parole. Kavala, 68, founded a nonprofit organization that promotes peace and dialogue. He was sentenced in 2022 on charges tied to protests in 2013 and a coup attempt in 2016.
Human rights advocates and opposition groups allege that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has exploited the judiciary to target critics and rivals since coming to power over two decades ago. The European court reiterated its demand for Kavala's release, first made in 2019, and stated that his conviction should be considered "null and void."
The court found that Turkey had breached several of Kavala's fundamental rights and highlighted "structural shortcomings" that compromised the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, making it susceptible to executive influence, especially in politically sensitive cases. Turkey's government insists on the impartiality and independence of its justice system, dismissing the court's prior verdicts.
Kavala was initially detained in 2017 for financing protests that aimed to overthrow the government; he was acquitted in 2020 but was rearrested in 2022 on coup attempt charges.
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