Factsheet | Turkey’s Criminal Peace Judgeships
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative produced a new factsheet on Turkey’s Criminal Peace Judgeships.
Factsheet: Turkish Constitutional Court
Stats are quite alarming both with regard to sheer volume of the cases considered and low percentage of the decisions establish a right violation. It is self-evident that a Court with 15 members cannot duly render 186.701 decisions within seven years, and a Court which dismisses 96% of the applications cannot be regarded as providing an effective remedy.
Since 2014, and increasingly after the attempted coup of 2016, the TCC has aligned with the AKP Government. Although, the TCC rarely delivers decisions upholding rights and freedoms, these decisions are perceived as strategical decisions to prevent the ECtHR from reversing its decision recognizing the TCC as an effective remedy.
International Coalition consists of Bar Associations and NGOs made submission on rights violations in Turkey
International Coalition consists of Law Society of England & Wales, Bar Human Rights Committee, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales, Conseil National des Barreaux, European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World… Read More ›
Update: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2019)
According to the latest update, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 599 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 311 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to 1967 years in prison by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Recent Posts
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Turkish Bar Associations boycott new judicial year opening at presidential palace (updated)
Turkish bar associations are revolting against Government’s unlawful pressure on the judiciary and the legal profession as a whole. Over 40 bar associations representing 90% of all Turkish lawyers are slating the Court of Cassation over its decision to hold… Read More ›
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Suspicions and concerns continue about the four victims of enforced disappearance as the Ankara Court has decided to remand them
Özgür Kaya, Erkan Irmak, Yasin Ugan and Salim Zeybek who had been missing since February 2019, unexpectedly turned out in police custody on 29th of July.
Despite Ankara Provincial Security Directorate (Police) claims that the persons in question were detained in front of Ankara Police HQ during a routine police control, experts who have been closely following their disappearance believe that the detention of the victims has been staged so as to disguise Turkish Intel’s involvement in their disappearence.
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Appeal Court upheld the sentence given to Gulen’s lawyer
Ankara Regional Appeal court upheld the sentence given to Gulen’s lawyer, Nurullah Albayrak who is the member of the Ankara Bar Association.
Ankara Regional Appeal court, which had considered the appeal, last week upheld the two-year prison term given by the Ankara 9th Heavy Penal Court. In a separate case, life imprisonment is being sought for Albayrak for leading of an armed terrorist organization.Since the coup attempt of 2016, 311 Turkish lawyers have been convicted to a total of 1967 years in prison under Turkey’s Anti-Terror Legislation.
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Joint submission by the ALI, the ODF and the HRD on abuse of Anti-Terror Law and criminalization of legitimate exercise of the freedom of expression
A coalition consists of the Arrested Lawyers Initiative, the Open Dialogue Foundation and the Human Rights Defenders e.V. made a joint submission titled ‘ARBITRARY APPLICATION OF ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS AND CRIMINALIZATION OF USING AN I-MESSAGE APPLICATION (BYLOCK)‘ to the United Nations… Read More ›
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The Arrested Lawyers made submission to the United Nations on ongoing crackdown against lawyers in Turkey
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative made submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review for Turkey, The submission titled ‘Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers (2016-2019) | Unjust Arrests and Convictions’ covers mass arbitrary prosecution of lawyers, violation of Turkish lawyers’ the… Read More ›
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Chief of Turkish National Police admits that 540,000 detentions have been made without legal ground
On the third anniversary of 2016’s coup attempt, Celal Uzunkaya who is general director of the Turkey’s General Directorate of Security (National Police) admits that 540,000 individuals have been detained on grounds of their alleged cohesion or connection with the Gulen Movement / Structure which is outlawed by the Turkish Government after the coup attempt.
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Factsheet: Enforced Disappearances and Turkey
The @ArrestedLawyers Initiative published a factsheet titled Enforced Disappearances and Turkey. To download the factsheet as a pdf document click here.
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Top bureaucrat of the Minister of Justice who has affiliation with extremist groups was appointed to the Constitutional Court
Turkish Judiciary’s the highest ranking bureaucrat, Selahattin Menteş who is undersecretary of the Justice Minister and former chair of the Inquiry Commission for State of Emergency Measures has been appointed to the Turkish Constitutionalists Court.
Mr. Mentes is a controversial name because of his affiliation with extremist cleric Nurettin Yildiz and lunatic hate-speech giver Kadir Misirlioglu.
Another controversial aspect of this appointment is that Mr Mentes is the former chair of the Inquiry Commission for State of Emergency Measures. During his term he signed thousands of decisions dismissing appeals of those who were purged under Emergency Decrees. Mr Mentes, as a Constitutional Court judge, will now have authority to consider appeals lodged against his own decisions.By today’s appointment, the number of the members of the Constitutional Court who have been appointed by Erdogan has increased to seven out 17.
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Four woman lawyers have been arrested in Istanbul
Four lawyers work in People’s Law Office in Istanbul were detained with a police raid on 20 July 2019. Lawyers Aysegul Cagatay, Nadide Ozdemir, Görkem Agdede and Ebru Timtik who are the members of Istanbul Bar Association have been arrested… Read More ›
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Factsheet on Turkey’s state of emergency dismissals
The @ArrestedLawyers Initiative published a factsheet on Turkey’s state of emergency dismissals. It includes the latest statistics on the Inquiry Commission’s work, criteria applied for the dismissals and the definition of the connection and cohesion made by Ankara Regional Appeal Court.
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Abuse of the Anti-Terrorism laws by Turkey is steadily increasing
According to our survey there is a steady increase in the use of anti-terrorism law on individuals by public prosecutors. In 2017 and 2018, public prosecutors have indicted more than 300.000 individuals under 309-316 of Turkish Penal Code which stipulate crimes against the Constitutional Order.
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Turkish Lawyer who represents a torture victim was also tortured and detained
Words of the Turkish lawyer who was subjected to torture in Ankara:
‘They removed my clothes 2 times. The department manager said such things as if I would make him dishonor me with a baton.’ -
Turkish Court sentences four lawyers in Trabzon.
Trabzon High Penal Court sentenced four lawyers including the former president of Trabzon Bar Association under Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code which stipulates membership to an armed organisation. Lawyers Orhan Ongoz, Hüseyin Yılmaz, Selman Bitiş, Mustafa Öngün who… Read More ›
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President Erdogan’s security details tortured a Turkish lawyer
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s security guards detained and beat an Istanbul lawyer for insulting the president after questioning blocked traffic at the site of a wedding ceremony attended by Erdoğan, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported on Tuesday. The incident took place… Read More ›
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HRW Report: (Turkish) Lawyers on Trial
Human Rights Watch published a comprehensive report on persecution of Turkish lawyers named ‘Lawyers on Trial’.
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Statement on the occasion of the Lawyers Day in Turkey
Statement on the occasion of the Lawyers Day in Turkey
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Update: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2019)
According to the report, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 599 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 297 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to 1879 years in prison by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
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Ankara Court sentences 21 lawyers to some 150 years in prison
Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court sentences 22 lawyers to some 150 years in prison. Lawyers who were detained on 3rd and 26th of August 2016, were convicted under Article 314§2 of the Turkish Penal Code which criminalizes membership to an armed terrorist organization.
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Turkish Government Targets Family Members of the Critical Lawyers
The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan secretly investigated the family members of lawyers who were perceived to be critical of the regime including their spouses and children. The targeting of family members of critical lawyers and human rights… Read More ›
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Speaker of the Turkish Parliament assaults the Appeal Commission for reinstating ten dismissed staff
Turkish Parliament Speaker’s recent undue interference in the appeal process is seen by many as the final nail in the Commission’s long diminishing respectability.
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Turkish Courts convict 18 more lawyers
18 lawyers were sentenced to some 160 years in prison by Istanbul 37th Assize Court under Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code which stipulates the armed terrorist organization. So far, Turkey have sentenced 248 lawyers to 1603 years in prison.
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UN Committee against Torture blasts Turkey over wide-spread torture, and institutional negligence on investigating torture incidents
Within its periodic review procedure, the UN Committee against Torture blasts Turkey over wide-spread torture, and institutional negligence on investigating torture incidents. The Committee addressed more than hundred questions to be answered by the Turkish Government. The Committee reiterated its request from… Read More ›
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Using the ByLock in 1970
This is the translation of the article of lawyer Mr Levent Maziliguney published in Meridyenhaber. Please don’t say that there was no Internet in 1970 so Bylock could not be used. I know too that the internet was not invented yet in 1970…. Read More ›
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The highest Portuguese and Irish judicial bodies condemn Turkey over rights violations
The highest Portuguese and Irish judicial bodies have condemned Turkish Government over its ongoing rights violation against lawyers, judges and prosecutors, and urged all national and European institutions, within the judiciary, to suspend any initiatives or cooperation projects with the Turkish judicial system
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Members of European Parliament and NGOs: There is no effective legal remedy for the Turkey’s persecuted journalists
Resolution on ineffectiveness of domestic legal remedies in Turkey The lack of visible improvements in freedom of the media in Turkey since the state of emergency was lifted on 18 July 2018 is of great concern. The mass arrests, detention… Read More ›
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An Awareness Raising Campaign by the Arrested Lawyers Initiative
The Arrested Lawyers have produced GIFs for awareness raising campaign carried out on the occasion of Day of the Endangered Lawyers.
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Avrupa Konseyi Bakanlar Komitesi’nin Adli ve Idari Yargılamalarda Elektronik Delillere Dair Kilavuz Ilkeleri
Avrupa Konseyi Bakanlar Komitesi 30 Ocak 2019’da Adli ve Idari Yargılamalarda Elektronik Delillere Dair Kilavuz Ilkeleri yayınladı. Onemli ilkeler ihtiva eden Kilavuz Ilkeleri Arrested Lawyers Initiative Turkce’ye tercüme etti.
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Our Statement on the Occasion of Day of the Endangered Lawyers
24th of January is Day of the Endangered Lawyers. 2019 is dedicated to Turkish lawyers who have been subjected to a relentless crackdown. Our latest report has revealed that in the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, 1,546 lawyers have… Read More ›
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Day of the Endangered Lawyers 2019
On the occasion of Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2019, the Arrested Lawyers Initiative has worked with two great artists, Mr Carlos Latuff and Mr Aseem Triverdi, to raise awareness on the plight of Turkish lawyers.
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Updated Report: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018)
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative updated its new report entitled “Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018).”
According to the report, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 594 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 216 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to 1361 years in prison by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
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Persecution of Turkish Lawyers | November 2018| 15 Lawyers were sentenced
In the November, 15 Turkish lawyers have been convicted of terrorism related charges. According to data compiled by our initiative monitoring action in daily basis, 593 lawyers have been arrested since the July of 2016, moreover, 208 of those lawyers have been sentenced to long imprisonment, ranging from 2 to 14 years, with the charge of being member of an armed terrorist organisation.
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Report: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018)
The Arrested Lawyers Initiative published a new report entitled “Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018).”
According to the report, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 593 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 198 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to long imprisonment by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
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Statement by The Arrested Lawyers Initiative on the occasion Of European Lawyers Day
We, The Arrested Lawyers Initiative, sincerely congratulate your European Lawyers Day.
Lawyers are the sine qua non of rule of law and fair, independent, impartial judiciary and also the most important and effective safeguard against torture and ill-treatment. As of 25th October 2018, 590 lawyers have been arrested (since 15th July) & 1548 lawyers are under prosecution. So far, 196 lawyers were sentenced to long imprisonment. Some of the arrested lawyers were subjected torture and ill-treatment. -
Persecution of Turkish Lawyers | October 2018| 15 Lawyers were sentenced
In the October, 15 Turkish lawyers have been convicted of terrorism related charges. According to data compiled by our initiative monitoring action in daily basis, 592 lawyers have been arrested since the July of 2016, moreover, 197 of those lawyers have been sentenced to long imprisonment, ranging from 2 to 14 years, with the charge of being member of an armed terrorist organisation.
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Turkey arrests yet another lawyer: Omer Kavili is the 592nd victim lawyer
Peace Criminal Judge Gorkem Bayraktutan, who has only two years of experience, argued that Mr Kavili’s motive is not performing the profession of defence but demonstrating his client and himself as victim by doing reverse psychology (ters psikoloji) and trying to vindicate in the case by doing so. Judge continued his decision as follows “suspect’s behaviors in question are newsworthy and causing public indignation’ and decided to arrest lawyer Mr. Kavili.
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Report by Norwegian Bar Association: Working conditions for lawyers in Turkey
The Norwegian Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee (HRC) published a report entitled ‘Working Conditions For Lawyers In Turkey.’
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The Arrested Lawyers contributed a report submitted to the UN by International Bar Associations
Three international law associations made a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and urge the UN to enter into urgent dialogue with the Turkish government with a view to ending the persecution and prosecution… Read More ›
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Video: Persecution of Turkish Lawyers
#Turkey #Solidarity to #Defend the #Defenders 590 #Turkish #lawyers have been #arrested. 1546 lawyers have been subjected to #prosecution. Since July of 2016, 182 lawyers have been #sentenced. 34 #CSO of lawyers #dissolved
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Erdogan gets infinite authority over the national and provincial bar associations
Presidential Decree No:5 of which name is Presidential Decree as to the State Inspection Institution regulates (article 1) that Turkish Presidency has authority to inspect Bar Associations, Professional Organizations, Trade Unions, Chambers of Commerce, Employer and Employee Unions, Association and Foundations. Moreover, any senior inspector of the D.D.K. would be able to suspend the chairperson, and the board members of the aforementioned entities should the inspector decides that it is necessary for the soundness of the inspection or the public weal.
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Human Rights Violations Against Turkish Lawyers were reported to the UN Human Rights Council
Three international law associations made a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and urge the UN to enter into urgent dialogue with the Turkish government with a view to ending the persecution and prosecution of legal professionals in the country.
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Turkey rearrests 12 lawyers a day after their release
A Turkish court that had ruled for the release of 17 lawyers, most of whom have been imprisoned since September 2017 on accusations of “membership in an armed terrorist organization,” has decided to arrest 12 of them again due to… Read More ›
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6 Lawyers were sentenced in Afyon
Afyon Public Prosecutorial Office has been prosecuting 14 lawyers, of those 10 have been arrested and six of those have been convicted. So far, in Turkey, 169 lawyers have been sentenced of terrorism related accusations.
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21 Lawyers were sentenced in Istanbul
So far, in Turkey, 162 lawyers have been sentenced of terrorism related accusations, and mainly of being the member of an armed terrorist organization. Twenty one of those who have been sentenced are member of the Istanbul Bar Association. Istanbul Public Prosecutorial Office has been prosecuting 503 lawyers, of those 147 have been arrested and so far at-least twenty one members of Istanbul Bar Association have been convicted.
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Report: ‘Defence for Defenders’
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. -
Six Bar Associations and human rights groups reported persecution of Turkish lawyers at UN Human Rights Council
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.
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Factsheet: Challenges to the Independence of the Legal Profession under the State of Emergency in Turkey
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.
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13 more Turkish lawyers were convicted of arbitrarily terrorism provisions
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.
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Turkey, Under The State of Emergency
On the occasion of #HumanRightsDay, The Arrested Lawyers Initiative opened online photography exhibit (“Turkey Under the State of Emergency”) to raise awareness about human rights violation have been lived in Turkey.
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Report on criminal liabilities with regard to torture incident took place in Ankara Police Headquarters between 20 and 31 May 2019.
This report includes a summary of the report published by the Ankara Bar Association as well as domestic and international legal framework concerning torture and a consolidated list of state officials who are suspected to have ordered, facilitated, carried out concealed the torturing of former Turkish diplomats at Ankara Police HQ.
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Update: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2019).
According to the latest update, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 599 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 297 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to 1879 years in prison by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Featured Categories
Today in Crackdown ›
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Turkish Bar Associations boycott new judicial year opening at presidential palace (updated)
19 August 2019
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Suspicions and concerns continue about the four victims of enforced disappearance as the Ankara Court has decided to remand them
10 August 2019
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Appeal Court upheld the sentence given to Gulen’s lawyer
5 August 2019
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Chief of Turkish National Police admits that 540,000 detentions have been made without legal ground
15 July 2019
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Factsheet: Enforced Disappearances and Turkey
6 July 2019
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Top bureaucrat of the Minister of Justice who has affiliation with extremist groups was appointed to the Constitutional Court
6 July 2019
Situation in Turkey ›
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Anniversaries: the good, the bad and the ugly
17 December 2018
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Video: Persecution of Turkish Lawyers
24 September 2018
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Erdogan gets infinite authority over the national and provincial bar associations
24 September 2018
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21 Lawyers were sentenced in Istanbul
20 August 2018
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Report: ‘Defence for Defenders’
9 July 2018
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Six Bar Associations and human rights groups reported persecution of Turkish lawyers at UN Human Rights Council
6 July 2018
Unjust / Wrongful Convictions ›
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Update: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2019).
28 May 2019
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Turkish Court sentences four lawyers in Trabzon.
28 April 2019
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Ankara Court sentences 21 lawyers to some 150 years in prison
29 March 2019
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Turkish Courts convict 18 more lawyers
20 March 2019
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Updated Report: Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2018)
4 January 2019
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Opinions by the United Nation Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Human Rights Committee
22 December 2018
