Turkey Upholds Philanthropist’s Conviction in Coup Case Watched by US and Europe

Turkey’s top appeals court upheld the sentencing of philanthropist and businessman Osman Kavala to life in prison on charges of attempting to overthrow the government, in a trial that’s closely watched by the US and Europe as a test of the judiciary’s independence.

Kavala is accused of participating in a failed 2016 coup attempt and was previously also charged with financing anti-government protests in 2013 together with several other suspects. The court on Thursday upheld the convictions of four other defendants to 18 years in prison, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. All the suspects deny the charges.