Interview: Osman Kavala on his 2000 days in prison

Osman Kavala, a philanthropist and one of Turkey’s most influential activists, was sentenced to life in prison and is currently serving more than 2,000 days in prison. Despite condemnation from the international community, Turkish authorities have rejected Osman Kavala’s demands for his release. We had the rare opportunity to speak with him about his unwavering resilience, aspirations and vision for the future of human rights in Turkey.

Osman Kavala was arrested on 1 November 2017 on charges of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order by force and violence”. Then, in 2022, a Turkish court sentenced him to life in prison without parole. However, it was his human rights activism and activities that led to his arrest.

Despite the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that there was not enough evidence to support the charges against Kavala, he is still being held in Istanbul’s high-security Marmara Prison.

It’s been over 2000 days since you were imprisoned. How have you been able to stay resilient during this time?

I didn’t feel alone or isolated. Messages of support from friends in Turkey, friends abroad, and young people I have never met have been a great source of motivation for me. Additionally, being aware of the numerous violations that affect others, including the significant number of individuals currently imprisoned in Turkey, will help prevent you from becoming overly fixated on your own damage.

It was also helpful to read the memories of Nazi camp survivors who maintained their spiritual integrity and never lost hope.

What was the reaction of the international community to your case? Do you think enough is being done to support your release?

International human rights organizations and the European Parliament have protested my unlawful detention and demanded my release in accordance with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights. However, the Turkish government has taken a political stance, claiming that foreign forces are organizing a series of attacks to overthrow the government. As a result, the government has adopted a strategy of not complying with the European Court of Justice’s rulings and dismissing demands from the West as acts contrary to its national interests and representations of sovereignty. What was difficult for me to understand was the life sentence and the reluctance of the Council of Europe after her second judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which said the Turkish government violated the European treaty. is. Human rights not to comply with the court’s first decision. What we observe is the undermining of the binding force of the European Court of Justice judgments and the credibility of the arguments used by Turkish democrats to defend the rule of law. It warns that failure to comply with the court’s ruling could have adverse consequences for Turkey.

On May 14, Turkey will hold one of the most important elections in recent history. What are your expectations about possible outcomes?

I hope. It is encouraging to see that six opposition parties from different segments of the political spectrum have prepared a comprehensive document that prioritizes returning to the parliamentary system, protecting civil rights and liberties, and ensuring judicial independence. is. Universal norms of law. It is also very significant that opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kurchalogl, who is also endorsed by the pro-Kurdish HDP and socialists, has said that if elected he would try to address and remedy all kinds of wrongdoing. I think it’s important. by state agencies. I think the Turkish people will choose alternatives that bring democracy and the rule of law to the country. I also think the recent earthquake devastation has exposed the deadly consequences of the undermining of state institutions under the rule of the current president, further strengthening Turkey. General demand for change.

Looking back on your journey as a civil society activist and philanthropist, what are the most important lessons you learned along the way?

I am increasingly convinced that an independent judiciary is of paramount importance in upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. Unfortunately, international law and its enforcement bodies are still far from effective in preventing the suppression of critical voices and the persecution of human rights defenders and political activists in countries under authoritarian rule. It’s not the target.

What message would you like to convey to those who are defending the civil and political rights of people in your country and around the world?

In addition to domestic efforts, we believe it is essential to raise awareness of human rights and create an environment of international unity.

The courageous actions and activities of human rights defenders play a key role in challenging the consents imposed on people by authoritarian regimes, instigating change, and in fostering hope that change will occur. I believe that closer cooperation between national and international civil society organizations is needed to raise awareness of Human rights defenders and human rights organizations can lead the creation of a global community that can exert greater influence on the United Nations, the European Council, the European Union and their respective governments.

Civil rights advocates urge the Turkish government to respect human rights and release Osman Kavala immediately. We call on the international community and civil society organizations to join us in putting further pressure on the Turkish government to secure Kavala’s release.