European Court of Human Rights Urges Erdogan to immediately release Turkish activist Osman Kavala

PARIS, (ST)- The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday called on the Turkish regime of Recep Tayyib Erdogan to immediately release the Turkish businessman and activist Osman Kavala, who has been in jail for more than two years while on trial within the framework of the Turkish regime crackdown on opposition figures.

Erdogan’s regime accuses Kavala of attempting to overthrow the government through nationwide protests.

The court said that there was a lack of reasonable suspicion that he had committed an offense.

“In the absence of facts, information or evidence showing that Kavala had been involved in criminal activity, he could not reasonably be suspected of having attempted to overthrow the government by force or violence,” the court said, calling on authorities to secure his release.

 It condemned the Turkish regime for arresting Kavala, saying that his detention was aimed at silencing him.

Erdogan has exploited the coup attempt, carried out in July, 2016, to launch a crackdown on his opponents. His regime has detained thousands of people, including journalists, judges, opposition figures, state employees and military personnel and has fired or suspended from work more than 150,000 people.

Hamda Mustafa