Turkish court begins retrial of Kavala over 2013 Gezi protest

A court begins the retrial of philanthropist Osman Kavala and 15 others over their role in 2013 nationwide protests.

A Turkish court has begun the retrial of philanthropist Osman Kavala and 15 others over their role in 2013 nationwide protests, an expanding case that critics and even Ankara’s Western allies say aims to quash dissent. Kavala and eight others, who were accused of organising the Gezi Park protests which began in Istanbul and spread across the country, were acquitted of all charges in February 2020 but an appeals court overturned that ruling in January. The high-profile prisoner, who has been imprisoned for three-and-a-half years, is also accused of involvement in a 2016 coup attempt. Those charges were combined with the Gezi case in February.