Joint Statement on the widespread mistreatment of lawyers in Turkey

REPORT

Widespread mistreatment of lawyers in Turkey

This week, a delegation of 21 bar associations, human rights organisations and legal groups representing eight countries gathered in Turkey for a fact-finding mission on the Turkish government’s treatment of criminal law and human rights lawyers.

A joint statement by the delegation said:

“As the mission draws to a close, we are distressed that lawyers in Turkey continue to face ongoing harassment, arbitrary detention, unfair trials, torture and ill-treatment.

“Lawyers in Turkey are arrested, detained and imprisoned simply due to their legal work – including clients they represent and professional bodies to which they belong.

“Many of the lawyers we visited in prison are members of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and the People’s Law Office (HHB). They have practised in criminal and human rights law for many years and prove that the Turkish government is systemically targeting lawyers who defend the fundamental human rights of the people of Turkey.

“Furthermore, when these lawyers find themselves detained, they are denied the right to a fair trial. Many have been held since 2017/2018, following unfair trials and ineffective legal assistance.

“We are also gravely concerned about the conditions of their detentions, which violate internationally-accepted standards for prisons, including the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. Detentions continue to be arbitrary and are prolonged with little justification or explanation. They have restricted access to family members and are held in isolating conditions, often able to interact with only two or three other detainees. Disciplinary measures are being applied to deny the lawyers’ conditional release. We are extremely concerned that at least two of the lawyers, Mr. Ünsal and Mr. Gökoğlu, have reported being subjected to torture.

“The mistreatment of lawyers, from arbitrary detention to unfair trials and torture, is a clear violation of Turkey’s legal obligations to the international community.

“The Turkish government’s intimidation tactics have a chilling effect on the rule of law and Turkish citizens’ access to justice. They foster a climate of fear and insecurity for lawyers working in criminal law and human rights defence.

“We demand the Turkish government halt all acts of intimidation and harassment targeting lawyers and respect the independence of the legal profession, in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.

“We will continue to monitor the situation of lawyers in Turkey and ensure the Turkish government complies with the standards of international human rights.”