LI Prize for Freedom

Schlusswort: Dr. Jürgen Martens, Präsident der Deutschen Gruppe der Liberalen Internationale

Dear Mrs. Bugra,

Dear Maren,

Dear Astrid,

Dear Karl – Heinz,

This evening we attended an awards ceremony in honour of an outstanding and impressive man.

Osman Kavala does not deserve to have the prize awarded in Berlin rather than in Istanbul. Thank you. Mrs. Bugra for travelling to Berlin to receive the Prize awarded to your husband.But this venue of our ceremony also sends a message. It says a lot about the current state of freedom of expression and liberal values in Turkey. Osman Kavala is paying a heavy price for his unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence, an open society and the pursuit of understanding.

The powerful figures in Turkey must be really afraid, given that something like this is enough to get imprisoned. The detention of Osman Kavala is proof oft he President´s lack of respect for dissenting views and democratic principles.

Osman Kavala is the polar opposite, the antithesis of such an attitude.

And he is right!

The Dalai Lama explained to me that almost all conflicts can be solved, if we first realise that we are all equal.

Osman Kavala is following this line of thinking when he demands something, Erdogan doesn´t have: respect for others.

That´s definitely worth a prize from Liberals around the world.

I would like to take this opportunitiy to thank Liberal International for awarding the prize for freedom to Osman Kavala on the recommendation oft he German Group in Liberal International.

I would also thank the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for organising this impressive event.

Finally I would make two points:

In the Lobby you can have your photos taken for use on social media by an professional Photographer.

We have also placed the „Book of freedom“ in the lobby where you can write down your messages for Osman Kavala.

Thank you for joining us this evening