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A Turkish court on Friday kept civil society leader Osman Kavala in jail despite Western pressure and the risk the case could further harm Ankara’s relations with Europe.
The hearing in Istanbul was the first since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel 10 Western ambassadors who called for Kavala’s release.
It also came as Erdogan is facing one of the toughest economic tests of his rule since 2003 and the Turkish lira tumbles to record lows against the dollar.
The 64-year-old civil society leader and businessman, who has been kept in jail without conviction for more than four years, is accused of financing 2013 anti-government protests and playing a role in the 2016 coup attempt.
If convicted, he could be jailed for life without the possibility of parole.
Western diplomats, including from countries whose envoys had been threatened with expulsion, were in court, as well as several opposition lawmakers.
The next hearing is scheduled for January 17.
The philanthropist has become a symbol for his supporters of the sweeping crackdown Erdogan unleashed after the failed coup.
Kavala, who denies the charges, snubbed the hearing on Friday after his case sparked a diplomatic standoff last month when the 10 embassies — including the US, France and Germany — said in a highly unusual declaration that his continued detention “cast a shadow” over Turkey’s democracy and judicial system.
Erdogan accused the diplomats of trying to “teach a lesson” to Turkey and threatened to expel them.
‘Unfortunate’
Kavala’s case could prompt the Council of Europe human rights watchdog to launch its first disciplinary hearings against Turkey at a four-day meeting beginning on Tuesday — a procedure that has only been used once before in the court’s history.
The watchdog has issued a final warning to Turkey to comply…
Source : france24
