Tuğrul Türkeş, a senior deputy with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and chair of the Turkish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has announced his intention to visit imprisoned philanthropist Osman Kavala. This decision has sparked significant controversy within the ruling bloc, particularly drawing criticism from the AKP’s nationalist allies.
Kavala, who has been imprisoned since 2017, was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in 2022 for allegedly organizing the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Despite rulings from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) calling for his release, Turkish authorities have refused to comply.
Türkeş criticized the prolonged legal proceedings in Kavala’s case, highlighting the lack of evidence for espionage charges and questioning the fairness of the trial process. “Osman Kavala wasn’t convicted of espionage. No evidence could be found for this charge and the man was acquitted. He was put on trial for the case concerning the Gezi Park. But can a trial last seven years?” Türkeş remarked.
The visit is expected to take place soon, with Türkeş seeking permission from the justice minister to proceed. The move has ignited a broader debate about the rule of law and human rights in Turkey, as well as the political dynamics within the ruling coalition.
