European court lobs third order to free Turkish activist jailed for life

The European Court of Human Rights' Grand Chamber ruled 15-2 that Turkey must free philanthropist Osman Kavala and erase his life sentence, finding no evidence he committed or incited violence during the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Kavala, 68, has been detained for nearly nine years despite an acquittal and two prior binding European judgments demanding his release.

The court found Turkish courts held Kavala responsible for others' violence without showing he participated, and that judges who once acquitted him faced disciplinary proceedings — evidence, the Grand Chamber said, of political pressure undermining judicial independence. It awarded Kavala roughly $81,700 in damages and $50,600 in legal costs.

Turkish President Erdoğan has already dismissed the entire process, telling reporters Turkey does not recognize rulings from courts it does not recognize. The judgment is final and unappealable, though enforcement depends on Turkey's cooperation — the same cooperation that has been absent for two previous rounds of this exact order.

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