The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Human Rights Committee, the Union Internationale des Avocats, Lawyers for Lawyers, and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada made a joint oral statement regarding persecution of Turkish lawyers at United Nations 38th Human Rights Council after Diego García-Sayán presented -UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers- his annual report.
The fact sheet entitled “Challenges to the Independence of the Legal Profession under the State of Emergency in Turkey” was prepared by a delegation of six Turkish lawyers including four The Arrested Lawyers Initiative members, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, and The Law Society of England and Wales.
According to official statements by the SDIF and minister Mr. Ozhaseki, the total value of assets confiscated by the Turkish Government is 65 billion Turkish liras (12 billion Euros). The figure does not include value of the seized assets of 127 persons, the dissolved entities’ confiscated chattels. It can increase up to 100 billion Turkish liras if those asset values are included.
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative published a new report entitled “Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | En Masse Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018).” According to the report, 1539 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 580 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 103 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to long imprisonment by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
The Open Dialog Foundation published a report that examines cases of harassment and attacks on lawyers and attorneys.
In the report entitled ‘Defence for Defenders’, cases of lawyers Fevzi Kayacan, Cemalettin Ozer and Mehmet Guzel who are former presidents of Konya, Erzincan and Erzurum Bar Associations were presented. Data and reports that compiled and published by The Arrested Lawyers Initiative quoted in the report.
24 Turkish lawyers were sentenced in 2018 May. By this latest decisions to convict, numbers of Turkish lawyers so far have been convicted of terrorism-related offences since 15th July 2016 raised to 141.
Denizli 3rd High Assize Court convicted thirteen (13) lawyers of the membership to the armed terrorist organisation and sentenced them to ranging from two to ten and half years. By this latest decision to convict, numbers of Turkish lawyers so far have been convicted of terrorism-related offences since 15th July 2016 raised to 138.
Denizli 2nd High Assize Court convicted eight lawyers of the membership to the armed terrorist organisation. Numbers of Turkish lawyers so far have been convicted of terrorism-related offences since 15th July 2016 raised to 125.
In April 2018, at least ten lawyers were convicted of terrorism charges. Thus, the number of lawyers who have been sentenced since 2016 July, raised to 117.
In the statement of the CNF, solidarity with Turkish lawyers was expressed, and Italian Authorities were asked to urge the Turkish Government to abide its obligations under the national and the international law
The Bar Council of England and Wales, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC), the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), and the Law Society of England and Wales have sent an open letter to Turkish authorities raising concerns over the rising number of cases of human rights violations against lawyers in Turkey.
On the occasion of Lawyers Day in Turkey, we urge the Turkish Government to take steps to ensure that all jailed lawyers are immediately released and the charges against them dropped, to take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of lawyers in Turkey, as well as their ability to perform their professional duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation, or harassment.
In the joint statement, The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and seven co-sponsoring organisations raise concerns over the widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment in the aftermath of the attempted coup in Turkey, the lack of effective investigations, and the on-going reports of torture. Organisations also share their concern over the widespread and systematic arbitrary arrest and detention of judges and lawyers in Turkey.
On the one hand, Erdogan Regime introduces many restrictions on the right to defence and the rights and authorities of the lawyers, on the other hand, grasps control of the recruitment mechanism for the profession of law with the cooperation of Metin Feyzioglu.
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative published a new report entitled Extradition to Turkey: One-way Ticket to Torture and Unfair Trial. In the report that covers the situation in Turkey regarding the risks to be subjected torture and ill-treatment and to be… Read More ›
8 Lawyers were sentenced ranging from 6 to 9 years. A lawyer was taken into custody and a lawyer was arrested.
Thus the number of Turkish lawyers who so far have been convicted raised to 88.
Since the day President Erdogan has intended to break away from the West and has embraced a religious rhetoric, the best way to get promotion in the Turkish bureaucracy is to have the affinity with one of the Sunni sects.
The 20 Members of Konya Bar Association were sentenced range to 2 and 11 years only because of doing their profession with integrity. So far, 59 Turkish lawyers were sentenced to long imprisonment.
1) Maximum Pretrial Detention In Turkey Increased From 5 To 7 Years
2) Early Parole for The Convicts
3) 668 infants (0-6 years old) in Turkish prisons
4) 174 new prisons construction
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu claimed that all non-governmental organisations and Diyarbakır Bar associations in the country’s southeast are affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), during an interview he gave to Turkey’s state-run TRT Haber. Assessing the developments… Read More ›
Lawyers Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), a committee of Canadian lawyers who promote human rights and the rule of law internationally addressed a letter to urge the immediate release of Turkish lawyer Mustafa Aydin who is terminally ill and has been… Read More ›
The Cape Law Society (“CLS”) which is a statutory body established in terms of the South Africa’s Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 to administer and regulate the attorneys’ profession in the Eastern, Western & Northern Cape Provinces has made a statement regarding… Read More ›
