Lawyers to Turkey: Implement Top Court’s Kavala Ruling Without Delay

Osman Kavala’s lawyers have called on Turkish authorities to immediately enforce a landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), saying the decision must end a “grave injustice.” In a joint statement, attorneys Başak Çalı and Philip Leach said the ECHR’s Grand Chamber judgment on Kavala is clear and binding. “The time has come to implement the ruling without further delay,” they said. Kavala, a Turkish businessman and civil society activist, has been in prison since 2017. He faces charges linked to nationwide protests in 2013 and a failed coup attempt in 2016, which he denies. The ECHR has repeatedly found that Turkey violated Kavala’s rights, including his right to liberty and security. The Grand Chamber’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. The lawyers stressed that continued detention ignores the court’s authority and undermines the rule of law. They urged Turkish officials to act now to release Kavala and close the case.