Lawyer Yilmaz Sunar, the member of Istanbul Bar Association, who has been lawyer to German, Norwegian, Swedish and Dutch embassies in Ankara was detained with espionage charge.

Mr Sunar is subject to an investigation for his work on behalf of the German Embassy in Ankara. Although Turkish media has already labeled him as ‘traitor’ and ‘German spy’, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the arrest was “in no way understandable”.

A-Haber which is the AKP Government’s mouthpiece labeled Mr Sunar as ‘traitor’ and ‘FETO’s Spy Lawyer’.

Mr Sunar is accused of acting against Turkey’s national interest by preparing reports for the German embassy on Turkish individuals who seek asylum in Germany. Head of Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Hans-Eckhard Sommer told Die Welt that employing local lawyers to investigate asylum claims was a standard practice.

Since 2016’s coup attempt, 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, prosecuted and convicted due to alleged terror-linked offenses. As of today, more than 1500 lawyers have been prosecuted and 605 lawyers arrested. So far, 332 lawyers have been sentenced to 2089 years in prison on the grounds of membership of an armed terrorism organization or of spreading terrorist propaganda.

Categories: Unjust / Wrongful Convictions