The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has mandated Turkey to promptly release Osman Kavala, a philanthropist and activist who has been incarcerated for nearly a decade. Kavala's detention stems from charges related to nationwide protests in 2013 and a failed coup attempt three years later, which rights groups have deemed politically motivated. The ECHR's ruling on Tuesday stated that his continued imprisonment was unlawful and violated his rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, and association. The court further asserted that Kavala's aggravated life sentence amounted to "inhuman and degrading treatment." The case underscores the systemic problem in Turkey of targeting political opponents, human rights defenders, and journalists through detention and prosecution, according to the ECHR. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has been accused of weaponizing the judiciary against critics and rivals. Kavala, 68, emerged as a symbol of Turkey's crackdown on civil society following his arrest in October 2017. His case remains one of the most significant recent flashpoints between Ankara and Strasbourg, testing the Council of Europe's ability to enforce ECHR rulings. Despite Turkey's failure to comply with previous ECHR decisions regarding Kavala, it continues to engage with the system and has not severed ties. The upcoming Committee of Ministers meeting in mid-September is expected to prioritize the Kavala case, but the outcome remains uncertain.