Turkey – France deplores the ruling upholding Osman Kavala’s life sentence (28 december 2022)

France deplores the Turkish court’s December 28 ruling upholding Osman Kavala’s life sentence. This civil society activist has been jailed for more than five years in violation of Turkey’s international obligations. France once again calls for Osman Kavala to be released immediately and for all charges against him to be dropped, in accordance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on December 10, 2019, and July 11, 2022.

France reaffirms its commitment to respect for human rights, fundamental liberties and the rule of law, and calls on Turkey to fully abide by its international obligations, particularly under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. France will continue to pay close attention to all of the the trials against civil society representatives and human rights defenders in Turkey.