Turkish court rules to keep philanthropist Kavala in prison

By ZEYNEP BILGINSOY
Associated Press

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish court has ordered that prominent Turkish civil rights activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala should stay in prison, despite his more than four years in pre-trial detention. The hearing Monday took place as a Council of Europe deadline that could trigger infringement procedures looms. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2019 that Kavala’s rights had been violated and ordered his release. But Turkey has repeatedly refused to do so. His trial is now part of a merged case involving 51 other defendants, including fans of the Besiktas soccer club who were acquitted six years ago of charges related to the 2013 anti-government protests before that decision also was overturned.