As in any other peaceful demonstration in Turkey these days, a group of attorneys showing solidarity with their arrested colleagues were detained

As in any other peaceful demonstration in Turkey these days, a group of attorneys showing solidarity with their arrested colleagues were detained.

A group of progressive attorneys belonging to the Contemporary Judiciaries Association (CHD) had been arrested for defending their clients against the political and biased court system in Turkey.

Turkish judiciary system has changed in the recent years to become completely a hierarchical, top-down organization executing the demands of the “Ministry of Justice” in the direction of the government in cases it settles.

Defending clients in such political climate has become dangerous for any attorney who challenges the openly biased proceedings on the kangaroo courts.  And the lawyers who did are now under attack as the members of the Contemporary Judiciaries Association (CHD) know too well.

The lawyers belonging to this progressive organization had been under arrest for more than a year when they were detained at a raid to their office on September 12, 2017.  They were subsequently arrested on September 20, 2017.

On February 23^rd, these lawyers were brought to court as defendants in a highly political trial.   In the court, since no charge seemed to stick, they were released by the orders of the judge.  However, the Attorney General appealed the judgement immediately and the same court and the same judges decided to re-arrest the 12 lawyers for the same accusations only 7 hours after their order to release them.  The lawyers were “captured” while they were on their way to the celebration dinner for their release.  This time around though, more lawyers were added for arrest to the list of previously arrested defendants.

In the new trial, the attorneys for the defendant lawyers protested this political move and argued that their clients had been released after a lengthy 5-day trial but even though it was the weekend the AG had secured their client’s re-arrest.  Citing their political dependence, the lawyers rejected the court and the judges for their biased ruling.  The judges overruled the demand to reject the court on the grounds of ‘intention to prolong the trial.’  During the arguments that ensued, the head of the CHD wanted to testify but the judges decided on a court break and left the courtroom while ordering the court to be cleared by the police.  When the defendant lawyers refused to leave, the police attacked and beat them.  The head of the CHD was detained and taken to the police headquarters for questioning.

After returning from their break, judges ordered the arrest of 5 lawyer defendants.

The court proceedings and the rulings were immediately protested by 36 bar organizations around Turkey as being blatantly political and biased.

To protest the political ruling, their unlawful arrest and the harassments they are experiencing in prisons, the 5 lawyers went on a hunger strike.   One of the lawyers on the hunger strike had previously joined his clients’ hunger strikes when they protested the unlawful firing of academicians by the government.  He has a heart condition and was under doctor’s supervision.  Doctor has advised against the hunger strike however the arrested attorney Engin Gökoğlu responded by saying, “There is nothing else we could do in prison. I am either going to be silent about what we have seen or other injustices or we will make a sound against these.”  The same imprisoned lawyer had been attacked in the prison, had his arm broken and denied medical care after his injury.

The lawyers are insisting to continue their hunger strike until their court day on March 18, 2019.

Yesterday, to protest the whole unjust process, the political nature of the trials, the bias of the courts and the judges against the progressive lawyers, another group of lawyers gathered for a peaceful event to fly some “good wish” lanterns as a gesture of solidarity.  They intended to draw attention to the erosion and destruction of justice in Turkey and voice their concern for the hunger strike the imprisoned lawyers were on.   The same government that gave the courts the orders to arrest the previous CHD lawyers again gave the orders for this group of 7 lawyers to be arrested as well.  However, the Turkish Government has not made it known what charges are being filed for the lawyers who were flying lanterns to wish well for their colleagues on hunger strike.

Sendika.Org News