Nieuws

Wang Quanzhang on the verge of being released – but may not regain his freedom

China

The prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang is expected to be released from prison on 5 April 2020. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Wang is allowed to travel to Beijing to reunite with his family. In a

Letter on continuing judicial harassment of lawyers in Turkey

Türkiye

In a letter to the Turkish authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the continuing judicial harassment of multiple prominent human rights lawyers from Turkey.  On 12 March 2020 the houses and offices of Messrs. Özkan Avcı and Zeynep Işık

Egyptian human rights lawyer Zyad el-Elaimy sentenced to prison for BBC interview

Egypt

On 10 March 2020 the Mokattam Misdemeanour Court in Egypt sentenced Zyad el-Elaimy, a human rights lawyer, former MP and one of the leaders of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, to one year in prison for “spreading false news with

Release imprisoned human rights lawyers amidst COVID-19 crisis in Iran

Iran

In view of serious threats to life and health, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately release all human rights lawyers unjustly jailed in Iran, including Nasrin Sotoudeh

Killing of lawyer Isaac Medardo Herrera

Mexico

On 23 March 2020, environmental lawyer Isaac Medardo Herrera was killed in front of his house. The killing was condemned by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Mexico. According to our information, on Monday 23 March

Joint statement: protect prisoners, including lawyers, from pandemic

Türkiye

Lawyers for Lawyers, together with fifteen other organisations, urged the Turkish Government not to exempt the release of political prisoners, particularly lawyers, journalists, politicians, artists, judges and prosecutors, human rights defenders and and others arbitrarily detained during the purge under emergency measures (2016-2018), in its

Iranian New Year: situation of lawyers on the ‘Nowruz’

Iran

سال نو مبارک (happy new year)! Today marks the start of the Iranian New Year. Unfortunately, the ‘Nowruz’ does not seem to bring prosperity and happiness for many human rights lawyers who have been detained and prosecuted by the Iranian

Ding Jiaxi remains in custody following 1226 Crackdown arrest

China

Former human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi remains detained following an arrest by police in Shandong Province, China on 26 December 2019. Ding’s arrest is part of a large-scale crackdown targeting human rights lawyers and citizen activists, which has been labelled

Joint statement: suspension of Fatma Karume

Tanzania

Lawyers for Lawyers, together with the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales,  AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyers, SADCLA and SALC have issued a joint statement of concern regarding the suspension

Unannounced visits to offices of LBH APIK

Lawyers for Lawyers and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada have called on the Indonesian authorities to conduct a professional and independent investigation into the conduct of the people, including the 4 police officers, who made unannounced visits without a search warrant

Oral statement Egypt UPR outcome

Egypt

On 12 March 2020, Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, The Law Society of England and Wales (“Law Society”), and the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) delivered an oral statement during the 43rd Session

Oral statement Kazakhstan UPR outcome

Kazakhstan

On 12 March 2020, Lawyers for Lawyers and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute delivered an oral statement during the 43rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. During this session, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Outcome Report of