The court in Istanbul was widely expected to issue its verdicts at the end of Wednesday’s hearing. However, it adjourned the trial until April 3, citing a lack of time for all the defence statements.
Ten defendants were charged with aiding terrorist organizations, including the network led by a U.S.-based cleric, which the Turkish government blames for the 2016 coup attempt and has designated as a terror group. The activists’ trial coincided with the release of a stinging report by the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, urging Turkish authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary, and to stop targeting human rights defenders, whom she said were being prosecuted for conducting “legitimate activities.”
The European Union also criticized the decision against Kavala saying it “further damages the credibility of Turkey’s judiciary.”“As a candidate country and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, Turkey is expected to apply the highest democratic standards and practices, including the right to a fair trial,” said Peter Stano, spokesman for the European Commission’s external affairs service.
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