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'ATTACKS ON INDEPENDENCE OF LAWYERS' MUST END IN TURKEY: INTERNATIONAL BODY
20:29 21.08.13
International Association of Lawyers head calls on Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan urgently to stop 'the oppression on Turkish Bars
and lawyers,' The Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Voicing concerns over increasing attacks against lawyers' independence
in Turkey, the president of the International Association of Lawyers
(UIA) has sent a letter to the country's prime minister, urging Turkish
officials to immediately end any action curtailing the independence
of the country's bars.
The letter penned by UIA President Jean-Marie Burguburu was sent to
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Aug. 5, the Union of Turkey's Bar
Associations (TBB) announced Aug. 21.
In his letter, Burguburu said the UIA has been "regularly alerted over
the past months about the increase in attacks against the independence
of the legal profession in Turkey," as he particularly focused on
pressures exerted on lawyers of protesters during and after the Gezi
Park unrest.
Burguburu reminds ECHR obligations
"We urge the authorities to stop immediately any actions aimed
at curtailing the independence of the bars, including unwarranted
prosecution, and threats of judicial or administrative reprisals and
to respect their obligations under the European Convention on Human
Rights to prosecute those responsible for the serious violations of
human rights which occurred during the protests," Burguburu said.
"We would be deeply shocked if the allegations with regards to the
position of the authorities sanctioning lawyers for legally exercising
their mandate as legal representative of victims are verified. The
UIA cannot accept such an attack on the very heart of the profession.
Besides, instead of stigmatizing the bars and association of lawyers,
the authorities should investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of
the misconduct," he said.
Noting that they "condemned these attacks," the UIA president said,
"Today our concern goes to the situation of the Ankara Bar Association,
which is accused of illegally promoting individuals' accusations
against the police," in an apparent reference to the Gezi protesters.
Burguburu's letter was also sent to President Abdullah Gul; Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin; Turkey's permanent representative to the UN
in Geneva, Ambassador Oguz Demiralp; as well as Turkey's permanent
representative to the European Union, Ambassador Selim Yenel.
Armenian News - Tert.am
20:29 21.08.13
International Association of Lawyers head calls on Turkish Prime
Minister Erdogan urgently to stop 'the oppression on Turkish Bars
and lawyers,' The Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Voicing concerns over increasing attacks against lawyers' independence
in Turkey, the president of the International Association of Lawyers
(UIA) has sent a letter to the country's prime minister, urging Turkish
officials to immediately end any action curtailing the independence
of the country's bars.
The letter penned by UIA President Jean-Marie Burguburu was sent to
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Aug. 5, the Union of Turkey's Bar
Associations (TBB) announced Aug. 21.
In his letter, Burguburu said the UIA has been "regularly alerted over
the past months about the increase in attacks against the independence
of the legal profession in Turkey," as he particularly focused on
pressures exerted on lawyers of protesters during and after the Gezi
Park unrest.
Burguburu reminds ECHR obligations
"We urge the authorities to stop immediately any actions aimed
at curtailing the independence of the bars, including unwarranted
prosecution, and threats of judicial or administrative reprisals and
to respect their obligations under the European Convention on Human
Rights to prosecute those responsible for the serious violations of
human rights which occurred during the protests," Burguburu said.
"We would be deeply shocked if the allegations with regards to the
position of the authorities sanctioning lawyers for legally exercising
their mandate as legal representative of victims are verified. The
UIA cannot accept such an attack on the very heart of the profession.
Besides, instead of stigmatizing the bars and association of lawyers,
the authorities should investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of
the misconduct," he said.
Noting that they "condemned these attacks," the UIA president said,
"Today our concern goes to the situation of the Ankara Bar Association,
which is accused of illegally promoting individuals' accusations
against the police," in an apparent reference to the Gezi protesters.
Burguburu's letter was also sent to President Abdullah Gul; Justice
Minister Sadullah Ergin; Turkey's permanent representative to the UN
in Geneva, Ambassador Oguz Demiralp; as well as Turkey's permanent
representative to the European Union, Ambassador Selim Yenel.
Armenian News - Tert.am