Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala denies charges in new trial

A Turkish philanthropist businessman and human rights defender has denied accusations of espionage and attempting to overthrow the government in connection with a failed coup four years ago, telling a court he opposes all efforts to take over power by force.

Osman Kavala addressed the court on Friday from his prison in the outskirts of Istanbul through a judicial video conference system during the opening hearing of a new trial against him, which human rights groups have denounced as unjust and politically motivated.

Kavala, 63, was acquitted earlier this year of “terrorism”-related charges for allegedly organising and financing mass anti-government protests that erupted in 2013.

But as his supporters awaited his release from prison, authorities issued a warrant for his rearrest, this time accusing him of links to a 2016 failed coup attempt.

The businessman faces a life term in prison if found guilty of the charge of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and another 20 years for alleged “military and political espionage” against Turkey.

The indictment

Academic Henri Barkey, who lives in the United States and was also charged in the case, is being tried in absentia.

A 64-page indictment alleges Kavala and Barkey collaborated over the coup, which Turkey’s government says was orchestrated by a network headed by US-based Turkish Muslim leader Fethullah Gulen.

It cites as evidence mobile phone signals suggesting Kavala and Barkey met in Turkey around the time of the coup attempt. Human rights groups have described the indictment as “absurd”.

Kavala told the court his more than three-year pre-trial detention was a violation of his rights and amounted to “a kind of mental cruelty”, according to Punto 24 website which monitors freedom of expression trials in Turkey.

He also rejected the charges against him saying he had opposed military coups throughout his life.

“My life experience, my world views and ethical values do not allow me to support coups,” Kavala said.

The court later rejected a request that Kavala be released from prison pending the outcome of the trial and adjourned the case until February 5.

Rights groups call for release

Kavala has been in prison since he was arrested in October 2017, despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling for his release.

Turkey’s Constitutional Court is reviewing his complaint challenging his lengthy pre-trial detention.

Several human rights groups have called for his immediate release and for all charges against him to be dropped, insisting there is no evidence to support the accusations.

“Despite the very clear decision of the European Court of Human Rights … Osman Kavala continues to be held in an unjust manner,” said Sezgin Tanrikulu, a human rights lawyer and legislator from the main opposition Republican People’s Party.

Emma Sinclair-Webb of the US-based Human Rights Watch called the trial “an absolutely shocking misuse of the Turkish justice system”.

“While this is an entirely political trial, just as the previous one was, in this case, the evidence is completely lacking,” she said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had in February criticised Kavala’s acquittal of the “terrorism” charges and had called for respect for the decision to rearrest him.

Kavala is known for his funding of projects promoting cultural diversity and minority rights.

The Parisian-born businessman was a founding member of US philanthropist George Soros’s Open Society Foundation in Turkey and headed a group that promoted cross-cultural ties through the arts at the time of his arrest.

Erdogan, however, has accused Kavala of being the “Turkish leg” of billionaire Soros, who the Turkish leader alleged has been behind insurrections in many countries.