ERZURUM – Prosecution of The Arrested Lawyers in Erzurum Continued
7 lawyers who are the members of Erzurum and Erzincan Bar Associations were on trial in Erzurum 2nd High Criminal Court. Lawyer Mehmet Güzel who is former president of Erzurum Bar Association and other 4 lawyers are are under arrest since 4th August 2016. At the end of the a-day hearing; The Court released one of the arrested lawyers and adjourned the hearing.
7 lawyers have been accused of “membership of the armed terrorist organisation” and pursuant to Turkish Penal Code, this offence requires 5 to 15 years imprisonment.
ANKARA – Prosecution of The Arrested Lawyers in Ankara Started
52 lawyers, 20 of them are under arrest for more than one year were on trial this week in Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court. After the failed coup attempt, in the August of 2016 more than 60 lawyers were taken into custody in Ankara and 26 of them have been subsequently arrested. During the investigation period 6 lawyers were released.
Ankara Chief Prosecutorial Office indicted 52 lawyers for “to be member of armed terrorist organisation, to admin an armed terrorist organisation and to attempt to overthrow government” and pursuant to Turkish Penal Code, these offences require 22,5 years and life time imprisonment.
The first hearing of the case held during this week in Ankara Sincan Prison Campus. After 5-day hearing, The Court released 2 of arrestee 20 lawyers and adjourned hearing to 12th December 2017. 18 lawyers will be kept under arrest until 2nd hearing.
ANTALYA – 2 LAWYERS WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Lawyer Deniz YILDIRIM who is Antalya branch chair of CHD – Progressive Lawyers Association and Ramazan GOKALP were detained in 12th August 2016 in the province of Antalya. Antalya Prosecutorial Office ordered 7-day detention -including one day incommunicado- for two lawyers. 2 lawyers are still under police custody.
GAZIANTEP – LAWYER HAKIM PEKER WAS ON TRIAL
Lawyer Hakim PEKER who is under arrest for more than 5 months because of attending the commemorations of Roboski victims and lawyer Tahir Elçi (who is murdered President of Diyarbakır Bar Association) was on trial in Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court. The detention on remand was extended for Mr. Peker by The Court. Next hearing will be hold 25th September 2017.
MUGLA – A LAWYER WAS ARRESTED
Lawyer Deniz AKBULUT who represents a coup defendant famous for wearing a t-shirt with HERO brand, was taken into custody while leaving Mugla courthouse after a hearing and subsequently was arrested.
A GERMAN LAWYER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN TURKEY
ISTANBUL – Lawyer Özge Elif Hendekçi, member of Istanbul Bar Association, was detained with a police raid in 2.30 am on 17th August 2017; although she has been at 8th month of a risky pregnancy. She has been still under police custody in Istanbul Police HQ.
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, 523 lawyers have been arrested and 1318 lawyers are under prosecution.
The Turkish government has also targeted Turkish lawyers’ right to association. 34 different lawyers’ societies or associations have been shut down since the declaration of the state of emergency. Following their closing down by a government decree, all their assets have also been confiscated without compensation.
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Categories: Situation in Turkey, Weekly Newsletters