Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi: If Europeans want to play a role, they must act responsibly and abandon the outdated policy of threats and pressure
Araghchi: It was America that withdrew from the negotiating table in June this year and chose the military option, not Iran
Araghchi: It was America that withdrew from the [nuclear] agreement, which was reached over two years ago with the coordination of the European Union in 2015, not Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister: No new round of negotiations will be possible unless the other side is ready for a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial nuclear agreement
Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow warns Japan as Tokyo deliberately escalates rhetoric over imaginary Russian threats, cautioning such a line carries risks
Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia will respond if new threats are identified in Japan's missile defense approach
Israeli media: An exceptional incident occured in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip
Local sources: The Israeli force, which crossed into southern rural Damascus, has reached the town of Qatana, located just 10 kilometers from the Syrian capital
Local sources: An Israeli ground unit, comprising more than 15 military and armored vehicles, carried out an incursion into southern rural Damascus from the occupied Syrian Golan
Belgian court orders regional government to stop military exports to Israel, Belga reports

Turkish court upholds Osman Kavala's life sentence

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Dec 2022 11:42
2 Min Read

Germany and the US call for the immediate release of Erdogan critic Osman Kavala after a Turkish court confirmed his life sentence.

  • x
  • a Paris-born activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala. (Getty Images)
    Paris-born activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala (Getty Images)

A Turkish appellate court confirmed the conviction of a critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose imprisonment has heightened tensions in Ankara's relations with the West.

Osman Kavala, a Paris-born activist and philanthropist, was sentenced in April to life in prison without the chance of parole on the allegation of attempting to destabilize the government by supporting street protests in 2013.

Seven others were sentenced to 18 years in prison for supporting the overthrow of then-Prime Minister Erdogan's government during the so-called Gezi Park demonstrations in Istanbul.

The Anadolu official news agency stated the appellate court found that the April verdict "complied with the law." The defense can still file an appeal with Turkey's Supreme Court.

Since his sudden arrest in October 2017, Kavala's years-long trial has been gnawing at Turkey's strategic but volatile ties with its main Western partners.

Related News

Erdogan slams Israeli strikes on Syria, says will not accept division

Arab, regional states reaffirm support for Syria sovereignty

Kavala was well known at the time as a soft-spoken businessman who used a portion of his fortune to support culture and projects aimed at reconciling Turkey and Armenia.

Erdogan, on the other hand, depicted him as a Marxist agent of Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros, who was using foreign money to undermine the government.

Kavala was initially charged with supporting the wave of 2013 protests, while another court then charged him with involvement in a failed coup attempt against Erdogan in 2016, in which over 250 people were killed in Istanbul and Ankara.

Kavala was charged with both sets of allegations. The court eventually convicted him on the identical charges he had been cleared of in 2020.

Germany urged his immediate release, while the US expressed "grave concern" about the verdict.

"His unjust conviction is inconsistent with respect for human rights and the rule of law. We again call on Turkey to release Osman Kavala," said Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the US State Department as quoted by AFP.

"The people of Turkey deserve to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms without fear of retribution," Patel added.

  • Turkey
  • Ankara
  • Osman Kavala
  • Erdogan

Most Read

An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
Algerian nurse stabbed in Germany

Murder of Algerian nurse in Germany sparks outcry, demands for justice

  • Europe
  • 14 Jul 2025
Credible reports, including some from Israeli media itself, indicate that Tel Aviv had pinned its hopes on what can only be described as a delusional plan. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Jebraily: Iran strikes rewrote regional deterrence rules - Exclusive

  • MENA
  • 15 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
George Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed
Politics

Georges Abdallah: Europe's longest-held political prisoner to be freed

A still from the video released by al-Qassam Brigades, which reads, "Captivity is better than death", on July 17, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video warning Israelis: Captivity better than death

Georges Abdallah attends his trial in Lyon on July 3, 1986 (Social Media)
Politics

'A symbol for every prisoner': Hezbollah hails Georges Abdallah

Plume of smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Qabrikha, July 17, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

'Israel' kills mother, father, injures 10-year-old daughter in Lebanon

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS