Turkey

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.

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.

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.