Conflict resolution, Freedom of expression, Political prisoners

Lawyers’ associations rally around arrested colleagues in Istanbul

After the arrests on Tuesday of at least 47 lawyers at Caglayan Court in Istanbul who were issuing a statement regarding the Gezi Park protests, the European Association for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH); the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC); and the Law Society of England and Wales have all issued statements in support of their colleagues.

All three statements are available below.

European Association for Democracy and Human Rights

London – Düsseldorf, 12 June 2013
Press release
European Lawyers protest

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KCK trials, Political prisoners

BHRC launches latest report into KCK lawyers trial

Melanie Gingell, barrister from Tooks Chambers and member of the Bar Human Rights Committee, has written a report into the fourth hearing of the ongoing KCK  trial of 46 lawyers in Istanbul, which took place on 28 March 2013. Further observations of the hearing have already been provided by Margaret Owen and Tony Fisher, who joined Melanie at the Silivri court house as international monitors.

The report has been published on the BHRC website, where it is available for download.

The trials continues on 20 June 2013.

KCK trials, Political prisoners

BHRC reports from KCK trial of lawyers in Turkey

As an international observer for the Bar Human Rights Committee, barrister Melanie Gingell travelled to Istanbul to witness the latest hearing in the ongoing case against 46 lawyers, most of them Kurdish, who were arrested as part of the KCK investigations that have seen over 8000 people arrested on terror charges.

The BHRC have made the report available to download on their website.

Tony Fisher, member of the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society, also observed the same hearing on 3 January. You can also read his report here.