Turkish activist sentenced to life in prison

Osman Kavala, Turkish activist, had already been in prison for more than four years without being convicted.

He was convicted of charges stemming from nationwide protests in 2013 and a failed coup attempt in 2016.

Kavala has refuted the allegations and accused the administration of “judicial assassination.” Western diplomats were among those in attendance at the court, which was jam-packed.

Kavala was first charged with coordinating and financing nationwide anti-government protests in 2013.

He was acquitted, but soon after he was accused of being a part of the 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in the imprisonment or dismissal of tens of thousands of individuals.

He was charged with both counts throughout the trial.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that there was insufficient evidence that he committed an offense and that his detention was intended to “suppress him and discourage other human rights campaigners.”

Kavala was born in Paris and raised in the United Kingdom. Prior to his rise to notoriety, he maintained a cultural center.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, which has become more authoritarian in recent years, has accused Kavala of working for Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros.

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