Erzincan 2nd High Penal Court (which is speacially authorized to adjudge terror linked cases) sentenced lawyers Cemalettin Ozer and Talip Nayir who are (respectively) former president of Erzincan Bar Association and former board member of association 8 years 9 month and 10 years. Mr. Ozer and Mr. Nayir were taken into custody in 25th October 2016 and subsequently arrested. After 8-month pretrial detention 2 lawyers were sentenced with terror linked offences such as being member of armed terrorist organisation or to run armed terrorist organisation.

There has been a relentless campaign of arrests which has targeted fellow lawyers across the country. In 77 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, lawyers have been detained and arrested on trumped-up charges as part of criminal investigations orchestrated by the political authorities and conducted by provincial public prosecutors. As of today, 522 lawyers have been arrested and 1315 lawyers are under prosecution.

Categories: Situation in Turkey, Unjust / Wrongful Convictions