New blow to Rule of Law in Turkey: more than 50 Turkish lawyers arrested for denouncing the repression of protesters

New blow to Rule of Law in Turkey: more than 50Turkish lawyers arrested for denouncing the repression of protesters

Paris-Geneva, June 12, 2013. The Observatory for theProtection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the InternationalFederation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture(OMCT), the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Associationof Lawyers), and the Conférence internationale des Barreaux (CIB – InternationalBar associations Conference) express their deepest concern following the arrestof more than 50 lawyers who were demonstrating inside a courthouse in Istanbulto denounce the repression of the “Occupy Gezi” protesters and call upon theauthorities to guarantee the free exercise of the right to freedoms of peacefulassembly and expression.

During the afternoon of June 11, 2013, more than 50lawyers, who were protesting at Çağlayan Justice Palace (the main justice courtin Istanbul) to denounce the repression of the “Occupy Gezi” protestors, werearrested by members of Turkey’s special forces.

According to some reports, Vice Chief PublicProsecutor Zekeriya Oz ordered their arrest. All those arrested were taken to ahospital before being transferred to the Anti-Terror Branch of Istanbul PoliceHeadquarters. Around 100 lawyers gathered outside the police station demandingthat their colleagues be released.

Reportedly, many of the lawyers were beaten and kickedon the ground by the police and their clothes were torn. To date, the legalbasis for their arrest remains unclear. All lawyers were released shortly aftertheir arrest.

As a similar peaceful protest should take place todayat noon before the Çağlayan Justice Palace, our organisations proclaim that “everyonehas the right, individually or in association with others, to promote theprotection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at thenational [...] level[s]”[1]and that for that purpose the “the State shall take all necessary measuresto ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone [...] againstany violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination,pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or herlegitimate exercise of the rights [...]”[2].

Moreover, "lawyers,like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, associationand assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in publicdiscussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and thepromotion and protection of human rights (...)"[3].

Recalling the role of lawyers as agents in theadministration of justice, our organisations call upon the Turkish authoritiesto:

· guarantee the free exercise of the right to freedomsof peaceful assembly and expression of lawyers;

· carry out a thorough, impartial and transparentinvestigation into the above mentioned use of force, bring any offender beforea competent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the sanctions provided bythe law;

· guarantee their safety and integrity in allcircumstances; and

· respect the rule of law.

Finally, we remind that 36 lawyer remain in detentiontoday for the legitimate exercise of their profession and call on the Turkishauthorities to put an end to all kinds of harassment against lawyers involvedin the defence of human rights.

For further information,please contact:

• FIDH: Audrey Couprie / Arthur Manet: + 33 1 43 55 25 18

• OMCT: Delphine Reculeau: + 41 22 809 49 39

• UIA: Marie-Pierre Lienard: + 33 1 44 88 55 66

[1] Article1 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted onDecember 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly.

[2] Article 12 of the United NationsDeclaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by theUnited Nations General Assembly.

[3] Article 24 of the UN Basic Principles onthe Role of Lawyers, adopted on December 18, 1990 by the United Nations GeneralAssembly