US outraged over conviction of Turkish activist

The US was deeply troubled by the conviction of a leading Turkish activist on Monday, who called his life sentence unjust and trying to topple the government, according to the State Department.

The United States is deeply troubled and disappointed by the decision to convict Osman Kavala, a critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who had already been jailed without a conviction for more than four years, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Price said that his unjust conviction is inconsistent with respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.

Washington called for the release of Kavala and all others arbitrarily incarcerated in Turkey, denouncing the continued judicial harassment of civil society, media, political and business leaders in Turkey. A leading figure in Turkey's civil society, 64-year-old Kavala was accused of financing protests against then Prime Minister Erdogan's government during large-scale protests in 2013 and involvement in a failed military coup in 2016. The case stemming from the 2013 unrest was not covered by the ruling on Monday.

The ruling from an Istanbul court has resulted in a swift condemnation from some of Turkey's main allies in the NATO defence alliance as well as rights campaigners, as well as by the fact that Kavala's plight had soured relations between Ankara and Western nations.

His treatment has led to the Council of Europe to launch rare disciplinary proceedings that could result in Turkey's membership being suspended from the continent's main human rights grouping.