Concerns about hunger striking lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal
Türkiye
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”. On 5 April 2020, Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal turned their hunger strike into a ‘death fast’ in protest of the long jail sentences they have been sentenced to.
The imprisoned lawyers are connected to the now closed ÇHD, a lawyers’ association which focuses on the right to life and campaigns for the prevention of attacks on human dignity and fundamental rights. The ÇHD was closed on 22 November 2016 by a decree that was issued under the state of emergency.
In support of the fasting lawyers, more than 300 lawyers, including those from Britain, France, Spain and Japan, signed a petition that was going to be delivered to the Turkey’s Supreme Court in a final plea for justice.
Lawyers for Lawyers has been monitoring the cases of the lawyers from ÇHD over the last few years and is deeply concerned about the health conditions of Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, also in light of reports that note that the conditions of prisons in Turkey have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.