Turkish and international human rights organizations urged the Turkish authorities to end what they term an “orchestrated campaign of intimidation and judicial harassment of civil society,” AP reported. 

Turkish state media reported that prosecutors are seeking life imprisonment without parole against entrepreneur-philanthropist Osman Kavala and 15 others whom they accuse of “attempting to overthrow the government” for supporting mass anti-government protests in 2013.

Nine human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday and called the accusations “absurd.”

According to them, Turkey is obliged to protect human rights defenders under international law.

The 2013 protests started with an environmental cause — protecting Gezi Park in central Istanbul. They quickly broadened into demonstrations opposing the government.