The trial of jailed civil society leader Osman Kavala resumed on Friday with the first hearing since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel 10 Western ambassadors who called for his release.
The hearing comes with Erdogan facing one of the toughest eco-nomic tests of his rule since 2003, as the Turkish lira tumbles to record lows against the dollar.
The 64-year-old civil society leader and businessman, who has been kept in jail without convic-tion for more than four years, is accused of financing 2013 anti-government protests and playing a role in the 2016 coup attempt.
If convicted, he could be jailed for life without the possibility of parole. Western diplomats, including from countries whose envoys had been threatened with expulsion, as well as several opposition lawmakers were in court.
The philanthropist has become a symbol to his supporters of the sweeping crackdown Erdogan unleashed after the failed coup.
Kavala, who denies the charges, snubbed Friday’s hearing after his case sparked a diplomatic stand-off last month when the 10 em-bassies — including the US, France and Germany — said in a highly unusual declaration that his continued detention “cast a shadow” over Turkey’s democ-racy and judicial system.—AP
