COVID-19 Series: The impact of the crisis on lawyers in India
The COVID-19 crisis poses huge challenges to human rights and the rule of law. The pandemic also affects lawyers all around the world in their daily professional activities, which causes a great impact on the legal profession. Lawyers for Lawyers has created a COVID-19 series to provide insight into the effect of the COVID-19 crisis […]
Initiatives in support of the 30th anniversary of UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers
Lawyers for Lawyers has collaborated on a number of initiatives of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) to celebrate and support the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (UN Basic Principles). The UN Basic Principles constitute a landmark instrument recognising the principle of independence of the […]
Arrest and continued detention of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah
Three months after his arrest, Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah remains detained, without access to his lawyers. On 14 April 2020, Mr. Hizbullah, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), reportedly under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Three months after his arrest, Hejaaz Hizbullah has not been formally charged or presented before a court. […]
Second quarterly update: #FreeTheLawyers Campaign
Ever since the launch of the campaign, Lawyers for Lawyers has undertaken various actions in the frame of the #FreeTheLawyers Campaign. Lawyers for Lawyers would like to keep you informed about these actions by giving you a quarterly update about all the activities that we have undertaken from April to July 2020. The recap can […]
Yu Wensheng and Li Yuhan featured in the #FreeTheLawyers campaign
Lawyers for Lawyers has added Chinese human rights lawyers Yu Wensheng and Li Yuhan to the #FreeTheLawyers campaign. Lawyers for Lawyers has on many occasions spoken out for these two lawyers but because of their continued detention, in relation to their legitimate and professional activities as lawyers, Lawyers for Lawyers has chosen to feature both […]
5-year anniversary of the 709-Crackdown
On 9 July 2015 the Chinese government launched a nationwide campaign using criminal laws and executive controlled courts to silence lawyers and other human rights activists through arbitrary arrests, detentions, convictions, and imprisonment. Over 300 lawyers and activists were arrested during this campaign, which has become known as the 709-Crackdown. Five years later, the situation […]
Continued detention of lawyer Elchin Mammad
According to our information human rights lawyer Elchin Mammad from Azerbaijan remains in custody. On 31 March 2020, the Sumgait City Court remanded Elchin Mammad in custody for three months. The court was supposed to meet on 27 June 2020 to make a decision about the case of Mr. Mammad. However, as a result of […]
Sentence of Mohsen Bahnasi renewed in absentia
It has been reported that the sentence of Egyptian human rights lawyer Mohsen Bahnasi was renewed in absentia. Mohsen Bahnasi is an Egyptian human rights lawyer, advocating for the rights of political prisoners. Moreover, he is a member of the Freedoms Committee of the Egyptian Bar Association. On 6 July 2020, the State Public Prosecution […]
Call for action in support of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers
As the 44th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council begins, coinciding with the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (‘UN Basic Principles’), the International Bar Association (IBA) urges Member States to support the UN Basic Principles and the role of the legal profession in upholding the […]
Abdullah Al-Shamlawi sentenced over tweets
It has been reported that prominent human rights lawyer Abdullah Al-Shamlawi from Bahrain has been sentenced to eight months in prison over two tweets on 30 June 2020. The sentence has been suspended upon payment of 200 BD (USD$530) bail. Al-Shamlawi is a legal consultant and an experienced lawyer who has practiced law for more […]
Concerns about draft bill on the reform of Turkish Bar Associations
On 30 June 2020, a ruling-party proposed bill which aims to restructure bar associations was submitted to the Parliament in Turkey. Lawyers from Turkey organized and participated in countrywide protests against the proposed bill. The draft bill was presented to Parliament on 30 June 2020 by President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party). […]
Online event with Colombian lawyer Danilo Rueda
We would like to invite you to an online event with Colombian Lawyer at risk, Danilo Rueda on Thursday, 2nd July at 6pm UK time. This event is co-hosted by the Colombian Caravana, ABColombia, Peace Brigades International UK (PBI UK); with the collaboration of Institute for the Rule of Law of the International Association of Lawyers (UIA-IROL) and Lawyers […]
Judgement of the ECtHR in the case of Bagirov v. Azerbaijan
On 25 June 2020, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), found that the suspension from legal practice and disbarment of laywer Khalid Bagirov from Azerbaijan violated his rights to freedom of expression and to respect for private life, laid down in Articles 10 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Supsension […]
Lawyers for Lawyers nominates Adil Mélendez Marquez for the Václav Havel Human Right Prize 2020
Lawyers for Lawyers has nominated Adil Mélendez Marquez for the Václav Havel Human Right Prize 2020. The award will be given to a human rights defender who has made a real difference to the human rights situation of a given group, has been instrumental in uncovering systemic violations on a large scale, or has successfully […]
COVID-19 Series: The impact of the crisis on lawyers in India
The COVID-19 crisis poses huge challenges to human rights and the rule of law. The pandemic also affects lawyers all around the world in their daily professional activities, which causes a great impact on the legal profession. Lawyers for Lawyers has created a COVID-19 series to provide insight into the effect of the COVID-19 crisis […]
Concerns about hunger striking lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal
Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal from the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) in Turkey have been on a death fast for more than 4 months. The two lawyers started their hunger strike on 3 February 2020, in protest of the long jail sentences they have been sentenced to on charges of “membership of a terrorist organisation”. […]
