Turkey’s jailed rights leader Kavala faces new trial
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Osman Kavala appears Friday before an Istanbul court on charges that rights
groups say are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s effort to stifle
dissent.
court mulls whether his detention ongoing without a conviction for more
than three years is lawful.
US academic Henri Barkey is also being tried in absentia alongside Kavala
in a case linked to the 2016 failed coup attempt against Erdogan.
Rights groups view Kavala’s case as a bellwether on the state of freedom of
expression under Erdogan a strong-willed leader who has ruled Turkey as
ADDS European Parliament statement
A Turkish court on Friday ordered civil society leader Osman Kavala to remain in jail pending trial on charges that rights groups say are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan s bid to stifle dissent.
The presiding judge rejected a defence request to release the 63-year-old in custody without a conviction for more than three years and set a trial date for February 5.
US academic Henri Barkey is being tried in absentia alongside Kavala in a case linked to the 2016 failed coup attempt against Erdogan. I have opposed military coups my entire life and have criticised the army s interference in politics, Kavala told the court by video link as his wife watched from the courtroom.