On 27 June 2018, lawyer Mustafa Aydin was released from prison. One day earlier, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with five other organizations, called for the immediate release of Mustafa Aydin.
Mr Aydin was arrested on 16 August 2016. Fifteen months later, on 10 November 2017, he was indicted and charged with being a member of an armed terrorist organisation, which is punishable under article 314 of the Turkish Criminal Code. Mr. Aydin has been in pre-trial detention for almost two years.
We were informed that mr Aydin is accused of having ties with the Gülen Movement. We understand also that one of the charges is that as a lawyer he represented a police officer who was arrested in December 2013 after investigating accusations of bribery and money laundering against members of the AKP. Such a charge is not compliant with article 16 of the Basic Principles on the role of lawyers, that stipulates that governments must ensure that lawyers do not suffer prosecution for any professional action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
Mr Aydin is also experiencing serious health issues, including prostate cancer and hernia, and has not been receiving adequate medical treatment during his 22 months in detention.
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the release of Mustafa Aydin, but reiterates its call upon the Government of Turkey to immediately end the arbitrary arrest, prosecution and detention of lawyers and to ensure that all lawyers in Turkey can perform their professional duties without fear of prosecution, intimidation and harassment.
