Seeking for Justice

Statement by Osman Kavala upon completion of his 2nd year in prison

I am at the end of my second year as a resident of Silivri, striving to make it through these tormenting times as unscathed as possible thanks to the support of my wife, family and friends.
Seeing my neighbours, acquaintances released from prison during my time here lightens my heart. I am more than happy that my neighbour across the hall, Eren Erdem, is finally out. Coming back to our case, three hearings have gone by. Court arguments have, to my understanding, made it clear enough that the charges have no evidential basis, those standing accused have done nothing to incite violence, and have no organizational affiliation to each other.
Defence attorneys have revealed that this indictment, with its very conception, extrajudicial telephone taps and informants’ letters is based on the work of police officers and prosecutors under charges of Gülenist activities.
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In view of the absurd accusations made against Osman Kavala by the prosecutor's office in the Gezi trials, Osman Kavala commented on this in his defence speech at the main hearing on 25 June 2019. In the following we reproduce passages from his defence.

"The accusations brought against me, which constitute the grounds for my pre-trial detention over the past twenty months, are based on a number of factually unfounded allegations against logic as well as presumptions that are not corroborated by evidence. Factual events have been distorted and a fantastic fiction has been constructed.

The indictment establishes that the Gezi Events were plotted by George Soros as an insurrection aiming to overthrow the Government, that in accordance with this plot the Gezi Events were financed by Soros, that I took part in the preparation phase of this plot, that I channelled Soros funds to the Gezi Events, that I acted as the leader and organiser of the Gezi Events.

The indictment reads as follows: "It has been understood that the entity led and coordinated by Mehmet Osman Kavala in our country,...prepared the ground for illegal structures and armed terrorist organisations to act; aimed to force the Government of the Republic of Turkey to resign by exerting pressure through this atmosphere and foreign countries; contemplated use of weapons and kept secret weapons readily available for preparing the ground for civil war, in case all the previous attempts would fail". This is an extremely degrading and humiliating accusation.
(…)
Throughout my entire life, I have never ever sympathized with the idea of change of power through methods other than free elections. Since the early 1980s, when I became actively engaged in business, I have tried to realize projects and investments that I believed were important, and strived to contribute to a culture of democracy and to the cultural life of our country."
(…)
The Gezi Events comprise a multitude of actions and activities undertaken by various groups and individuals in different cities and venues. Gathering and camping at the Gezi Park for the purpose of halting the construction project; protest actions against the use of force by security forces as well as the government decisions; open-air forum discussions and closed meetings held to reflect on all that happened during the process and to evaluate the social dynamics are altogether considered as the Gezi Events.
People who took part in these various activities during the Gezi Events may have different opinions about the goal and outcome of these events. It is quite understandable that there may also be differences in views and assessments about the events.
(…)
As I have tried to explain in my testimony and the petition where I provided additional information, upon Mr. Erdoğan's 4 February 2013 statement that ''Gezi Park will be replaced by a shopping mall'', I did make efforts to convince the government and the public about the fallacy of this project and to ensure that the Gezi Park remained and be preserved as a park. I did take part in the Taksim Platform. I was at the Gezi Park; I personally supported landscaping and planting activities at the park. Besides, as was also mentioned in the indictment, I took part in the meetings with Government officials. I cannot comprehend the logic of a person who talks to Government officials in an effort to find comprise between the protestors and the Government preparing the grounds for a coup by fomenting chaos and turmoil.
(…)
As I have already mentioned, apart from being a businessperson, I have been active in civil society for many years. Throughout this period, there were times when we cooperated with government agencies on various projects; there were also times when we criticised the practices of the governments and its agencies, when we tried to make a change in such practices.
(…)
Yet, certainly, I feel a deep pain for the lives that were lost and for the people who were injured during the Gezi Events. I also feel sorry about the material grievances suffered. For all the reasons I have explained above, I would like to stress that I am no different than hundreds of thousands of people who got involved in the Gezi Events peacefully - both in terms of intent and action, and I demand my release and acquittal."

For the full defence speech of Osman Kavala please click here.