Nieuws

8 months since Ali Jasseb Hattab Al-Heliji has forcibly disappeared

Irak

The whereabouts of human rights lawyer Ali Jaseb Hatteb Al-Heliji from Iraq remain unknown exactly eight months after he was abducted by armed men on 8 October 2019. Mr. Al-Heliji is a human rights lawyer and a member of the

World Environment Day 2020

Today, the 5th of June, is World Environment Day. Worldwide this day engages governments, businesses and citizens to focus on pressing environmental issues. Lawyers for Lawyers would like to take this opportunity to draw attention to the work of environmental

COVID-19 Series: The impact of the crisis on lawyers in Nigeria

Nigeria

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

Thabani Mpofu released on bail

Zimbabwe

It has been reported by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) that Zimbabwean lawyer Thabani Mpofu has been released on $20.000 bail by the Harare Magistrates Court on 3 June 2020, after he was arrested on 1 June. In

Concerns about draft bill in connection to Iranian Bar Association

Iran

It has been reported that more than 12,000 of Iran’s legal professionals have jointly signed a letter to Chief Justice Ebrahim Raeesi in protest to a draft bill that undermines their independence and in effect replaces the Iranian Bar Association

Payam Derafshan sentenced

Iran

It has been reported that Iranian human rights lawyer Payam Derafshan has been sentenced to two years imprisonment and suspended from practicing law for a period of two additional years. Derafshan has been sentenced without access to his counsel. Derafshan’s

Concerns about the deterioration of Buzurgmehr Yorov’s health amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Tajikistan

In view of serious threats to his health and life as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the government of Tajikistan to immediately release the human rights lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov and to provide him with

One year since Yu Wensheng was convicted after a one-day secret trial

China

On 9 May 2019, the Xuzhou Municipal Intermediate Court in Jiangshu province conducted a one-day secret trial of human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng. Before this trial, Yu Wensheng had been detained for more than 500 days. Neither Wensheng’s wife nor

Pre-trial detention of Mohamed El-Baqer renewed

Egypt

It has been reported that the pre-trial detention of Egyptian human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer was renewed by 45 days on 5 May 2020. The renewal session took place in absentia, without Mohamed El-Baqer or his lawyer present. Photo taken

Arrest of lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen

Philippines

On 1 May 2020, lawyer Angelo Karlo Guillen was arrested during a protest in Iloilo City, the Philippines. It was reported that the lawyer was present at the protest to provide legal assistance. According to our information, 42 individuals were arrested

Bar Associations of Ankara and Diyarbakir under investigation

Türkiye

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices of Ankara and Diyarbakir have initiated ex officio investigations against the Ankara Bar Association and the Diyarbakir Bar Association because of their statements denouncing Turkey’s top mufti Ali Erbaş. This has been reported by the

Wang Quanzhang reunited with his family in Bejing

China

Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was finally reunited with his family in their house in Beijing after he served a four-and-a-half–year prison sentence. Photo taken from AsiaNews.it After his release from prison on 5 April 2020, Wang Quanzhang was being