Bar Associations of Ankara and Diyarbakir under investigation
30 April 2020

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 Arrested Lawyers Initiative.

During his Friday sermon on 24 April 2020, Turkey’s top mufti Ali Erbaş alleged that LGBT persons were the source for evil and epidemic. In response, the Ankara Bar Association and the Diyarbakir Bar Association published statements denouncing the statements made by Erbaş. Moreover, the Ankara Bar Association filed a criminal complaint against Erbaş on grounds that he incited hatred against LGBT people during his Friday sermon. However, The Arrested Lawyers Initiative reports that the Turkish authorities and the Ruling Party defended Mr Erbaş and called on every jurist to denounce the Ankara Bar Association.

After the Minister of Justice denounced the Ankara Bar Assocation with a written statement, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an ex officio investigation against the Ankara Bar Association on 27 April. In addition, on 28 April, the Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an ex officio investigation against the Diyarbakir Bar Association for its statement denouncing Ali Erbaş. Both investigations were started as per Article 216 § 3 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Lawyers for Lawyers will continue to monitor the ex officio investigations that have been started against both Bar Associations closely.

Meer nieuws uit Türkiye

7 March 2024

First hearing in the trial against lawyer Süleyman Şahin: Diyarbakir 15.2.2024

Türkiye

On 15 February 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers representatives attended a hearing at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court, which marked the start of the trial against lawyer Mr Süleyman Şahin. As part of an international delegation, L4L was requested to

Lees verder
5 March 2024

Risks of impunity: hearing in Tahir Elçi case on 6 March

Türkiye

Lawyers for Lawyers expresses deep concern regarding the upcoming trial of the late human rights advocate Tahir Elçi, highlighting Turkey’s failure to ensure fair proceedings and the consequent risk of impunity. Mr. Elçi, a prominent Kurdish lawyer, was assassinated in

Lees verder
6 December 2023

Lawyers for Lawyers Monitored Final Hearing in the Trial of Berrak Çağlar – the Court Granted Full Acquittal.

Türkiye

On November 23, 2023, representatives of Lawyers for Lawyers observed the final hearing in the trial of lawyer Berrak Çağlar who was accused of being a member of an armed terrorist organization, following her expression of solidarity with her imprisoned

Lees verder
27 November 2023

International Delegation to Turkey: Fact Finding and Trial Monitoring Mission, 6 – 9 November 2023

Türkiye

From November 6 to 9, 2023, representatives from Lawyers for Lawyers, as part of an international delegation, undertook a fact-finding and trial monitoring mission in Turkey. The delegation, comprising 27 bar associations, human rights organizations, and legal groups from eight

Lees verder