Businessperson and rights defender Osman Kavala, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in late April for "attempting to overthrow the government" in the Gezi trial, completed the fifth year of his imprisonment today (November 1).
Releasing a statement marking his five years behind bars, he said, "As can be seen from the indictments issued against me, no evidence has been found showing that I was engaged in an activity that could be considered a crime.
"Despite this plain fact, which was put forward by the acquittal in the first Gezi trial, by two ECtHR verdicts, and by the dissenting votes of the President and members of the Constitutional Court, I completed my fifth year in Silivri prison.
"I keep in mind that I am not the only one who is subjected to unlawfulness, discrimination and cruelty. Listening to the stories of those others in prison and seeing people over 80 in the corridors is a constant reminder of this fact.
"I think that there is also a link between the arbitrary imprisonment of citizens and deadly work accidents such as mine disasters, that they both result from an understanding which does not particularly value human life.
"I believe that when the legal norms come to prevail in our country a renewal that emphasizes ethical values will also be initiated."
