On January 18, 2013, at 4 am, several lawyers were arrested in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Antalya, Hatay, Bursa and Kocaeli in the framework of an operation allegedly targeting members of the illegal Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party–Front (DHKP-C). These lawyers belong to the Progressive Lawyers Association (Cagdas Hukukçular Dernegi – ÇHD), one of the most important associations of lawyers engaged in the defence of human rights, in particular the fight against police violence[1], as well as the Platform for the freedom to defend[2]. This operation continued on January, 21, some of the lawyers having travelled abroad, bringing the list of lawyers arrested to a total of 14[3].
ÇHD’s headquarters as well as the law firm “People’s Law Office” would have been searched by the police without the presence of the Prosecutor in charge of the case and the representative of the Bar Association, in clear violation of the applicable provisions under Turkish law. Mr. Efkan Bolaç, charged by the Bar Association to monitor police raids, was himself also arrested. During the searches, police seized and copied confidential information held by the lawyers.
On January 21, 2013, several lawyers were referred to the Prosecutor accused of being “members or leading members of an illegal organisation” in accordance with Article 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Laws, for “transmitting instructions from imprisoned leaders of illegal organisations”[4]. This new wave of arrests is reminiscent of those that took place in November and December 2011, during which 40 lawyers were remanded in custody in connection with an operation allegedly aimed at dismantling the Kurdistan Communities Union (Koma Ciwaken Kurdistan - KCK) – an umbrella organisation said to be the “urban branch” of the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) intended to organize the Kurdish people that includes the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Today, no fewer than 46 lawyers face lawsuits related to their participation in the defence of the leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan.
Several gatherings organized by lawyers to denounce the arrests were also repressed over the weekend.
Our organisations again denounce the recurrent attacks suffered by Turkish lawyers on the basis of anti-terrorism laws which are being abused. We particularly deplore the fact that they are systematically identified with their clients or to the cause defended by their clients. Such assimilation violates the principles protecting the profession[5]. It also undermines the rights to defence as enshrined in all international and regional instruments of protection and human rights ratified by Turkey[6].
Our organisations are equally alarmed by the consequences this may have for the effective defence of both people prosecuted under terrorism charges as well victims of human rights violations in general, because in such a repressive environment it is increasingly difficult to represent them.
Recalling the role of lawyers as agents in the administration of justice, our organisations call upon the Turkish authorities to guarantee all the procedural rights that should be accorded to the lawyers arrested and to release them immediately if it appears that no charges could and should be held against them. Meanwhile, their safety and integrity must be guaranteed.
Finally, we call on the authorities to put an end to all kinds of harassment against lawyers involved in the defence of human rights, ensuring in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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 61 / mplienard@uianet.org
Romina Bossa-Abiven : +33 1 44 88 55 66 / rbossa@uianet.org