Osman Kavala, who has been imprisoned since 2017, has been awarded the Goethe Medal, one of Germany’s most prestigious cultural honors. The award serves as international recognition of Kavala’s enduring efforts in the realms of peace, cultural dialogue, and civil society.
The Turkish businessman, publisher, and cultural advocate shares the 2024 medal with Li Yuan, a Chinese linguist, and David Van Reybrouck, a Belgian author. The awards will be presented in a public ceremony on August 28, the birthday of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, in Weimar.
Osman Kavala: A Tireless Advocate for Culture
Announcing this year’s recipients, Gesche Joost, President of the Goethe-Institut, emphasized the need for individuals who strive for cultural dialogue—especially in an era when “the world is becoming harsher” and “democratic values are under pressure.” Joost described Kavala as “a tireless intellectual and pioneering figure” who continues to work for peace, reconciliation, and cultural solidarity.
A figure subjected to a punitive process that targeted not only free thought but also solidarity, Osman Kavala has dedicated his life to empowering civil society and promoting cultural pluralism. His imprisonment in 2017 as part of the Gezi Park trial and the subsequent life sentence without parole drew widespread condemnation from the international community.
A Voice Behind Bars
Until now, only four individuals from Turkey had received the Goethe Medal: Prof. Dr. Sadi Irmak (1979), Prof. Dr. Ekrem Akurgal (1981), Prof. Dr. Şara Sayın (2000), and writer Doğan Akhanlı (2019). Osman Kavala now joins this distinguished list. Yet this time, the award will not be received from a stage or a podium, but rather echoes as a voice from behind prison bars.
This recognition is not merely a personal honor for Kavala—it stands as a reminder and a call in defense of freedom of expression, cultural dialogue, and democratic values.
About Osman Kavala
Following the 1999 Marmara earthquake, Osman Kavala left his business career entirely and dedicated himself to civil society work. In 2002, he founded Anadolu Kültür, becoming a key figure in Turkey’s civil society movement. He was detained in 2017 and has remained in prison since, facing various charges over the years.
