Joint oral statement to Special Rapporteur on Torture
1 maart 2018

Joint oral statement to Special Rapporteur on Torture

Türkiye

On 1 March 2018, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) delivered a joint oral statement at the 37th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Within the statement, the organisation asked the Council to urge the Turkish government to stop the arbitrary arrest, detention and wrongful prosecution of legal professionals within Turkey.

The statement was made on behalf of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC), Judges for Judges (J4J), Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), The Law Society of England and Wales and Union International des Avocats (UIA).

The statement reads as follows:

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and seven co-sponsoring organisations note the Special Rapporteur’s report on Turkey and call on the government of Turkey to ensure effective implementation of the recommendations.

We share concerns raised about the widespread use of torture and other ill-treatment in the aftermath of the attempted coup and the lack of effective investigations. We are deeply concerned by the gravity and number of reports of torture we continue to receive, such as the reports early this week of 80 persons tortured by the police at Mersin Provincial Security Directorate.

Also of concern are the widespread and systematic arbitrary arrests and detentions of judges and lawyers in Turkey. Reliable reports indicate that since July 2016:

– At least 1525 lawyers have been prosecuted, 578 have been arrested and kept in pre-trial detention and 99 sentenced; and
– More than 4400 judges and prosecutors have been investigated with more than 2400 put in pretrial detention.

These reports also indicate the use of torture, ill-treatment and excessive solitary confinement against legal professionals, which can be highlighted in the case of a senior judge held in solitary confinement for more than a year and a lawyer arrested with 17 colleagues who were allegedly tortured by prison officials.

Finally, on 5 January 2017, the Prosecutor’s Office in Trabzon ruled that Decree Law No. 667 grants State officials immunity for any act committed within their duties under the state of emergency decrees, including acts of torture and ill-treatment. The prohibition on the use of torture and the duty of states to prevent and punish torture are non-derogable rights under international human rights law and, therefore, cannot be limited or suspended under any circumstance. We call on the Special Rapporteur to investigate and recommend remediation of the potential impunity for torture granted to State officials.

We invite Council to urge Turkey to:

– Stop and remedy the arbitrary arrest, detention and wrongful prosecution of legal professionals; and
– Prevent, investigate and punish the use of torture and ill-treatment by State officials.

Please click here for the PDF of the full statement.

Meer nieuws uit Türkiye

3 oktober 2024

OSCE side event – Addressing attacks on lawyers and the rule of law in Turkey: a profession on trial

Türkiye

4 October 2024  16:00-17:00      On Friday, 4 October, Lawyers for Lawyers will be hosting a side-event at the OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw entitled ‘Addressing Attacks on Lawyers and the Rule of Law in Turkey: A Profession

Lees verder
17 juli 2024

Trial monitoring mission for the hearing in the trial against lawyers from Ezilenlerin Hukuk Bürosu

Türkiye

From 1 July 2024 to 4 July 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers representatives visited Turkey on a trial monitoring mission for a hearing in the trial against the lawyers from EHB (Ezilenlerin Hukuk Bürosu, law firm of the oppressed). Lawyers for

Lees verder
5 juli 2024

Turkey: International legal community condemns Turkey’s arrest of ÇHD-lawyers Naim Eminoğlu and Doğa İncesu

Türkiye

In a joint statement, the undersigned bar associations, law societies, and lawyers’ rights organizations – representing tens of thousands of lawyers from around the globe – condemn in the strongest possible terms the detention of Progressive Lawyers Association (“ÇHD”) lawyers

Lees verder
19 juni 2024

Impunity prevails in the case of the killing of lawyer Tahir Elçi: Diyarbakir High Criminal Court acquits defendants

Türkiye

Diyarbakır, Turkey – On 12 June 2024, the Diyarbakır 10th High Cirminal Court acquitted the three defendants of all charges in the case of the unlawful killing of lawyer and former president of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, Tahir Elçi. This

Lees verder