Lawyer Erkem is member of The Izmir Bar Association
Human rights defender and lawyer Nalan Erkem who was arrested along with other 7 human rights defenders within scope of sham investigation in Istanbul, had a gastric bleeding in Silivri Prison.
Whilst she suffers of life-threatening gastric bleeding, she was transferred to the hospital in Silivri Prison campus with handcuff and kept with handcuffs during medical examination.
Despite lawyer Erkem suffers of ongoing gastric bleeding and so needs a comprehensive medical care, She won’t be able to go a surgical hospital until 1st November 2017 due to alleged workload.
Lawyer Murat Dincer who represents Ms.Erkem said that criminal complaints will be made regarding ill-treatment and inadequate medical care.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED?
On 5th July 2017; 12 human rights defenders were taken into custody during a (human rights) workshop at a hotel in Buyukada, Istanbul. The eight (of 12) human rights defenders, İdil Eser (Amnesty International), Günal Kurşun and Veli Acu (Human Rights Agenda Association), Özlem Dalkıran (Citizens’ Assembly), Ali Gharavi (IT strategy consultant), Peter Steudtner (non-violence and wellbeing trainer), Nalan Erkem (Citizens Assembly) and İlknur Üstün (Women’s Coalition) have been arrested on 18th and 22nd of July 2017.
Previously Lawyer Taner Kilic who is chair of Amnesty International Turkey branch and other 22 lawyers were taken into custody on 6th June 2017, in Izmir. Then, Taner Kilic and 15 other lawyers were arrested and 6 lawyers were released with judicial control rule.
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, 524 lawyers have been arrested and 1318 lawyers are under prosecution.
Only last week (14-18 Aug); one lawyer was arrested, 4 lawyers were taken under custody and still being held, 60 lawyers were on trial.
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.
Categories: Torture and Impunity