Turkey’s Main Opposition Leader Demands Immediate Release of Osman Kavala

Turkey’s main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, has called for the immediate release of jailed activist Osman Kavala, saying a recent court ruling must be enforced without delay. “The reasoned decision will be applied immediately once it is published,” Özel said. “They have repeatedly ignored the Constitutional Court’s rulings regarding all our friends. The European Court of Human Rights is ruling for a second time, and they are still resisting.” Özel’s remarks come as Kavala remains in prison despite multiple domestic and international court orders for his release. The activist has been held since 2017 on charges widely seen as politically motivated.