Thirty-three bar associations in Turkey have issued a joint statement calling for the removal of restrictions on access to legal counsel and for the release of the lawyers who were recently detained as part of a wider investigation targeting Kurdish-linked groups.
Twenty-five lawyers in five Kurdish provinces in the southeast, mostly members of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD,) are among more than 120 people who are reportedly facing terrorism-related charges.
In the statement, the bars expressed their concerns about the situation and said that they were closely monitoring developments in the case, including the arrest of several of their colleagues. The statement called for the removal of the restrictions that were placed on the lawyers, including a ban on meeting with their clients, and for their release from custody.
"Illegal searching"
The Bar Associations pointed out that the searches and seizures of their colleagues' homes were carried out without the presence of a Bar Association representative and a prosecutor, which they believe is a violation of the law. They also called for the lawyers to be allowed access to their legal rights, including the right to a fair trial.
"A 24-hour lawyer visitation ban was imposed on our colleagues who were detained, and a restriction order was issued regarding the investigation file. Lawyers are performing a judicial duty and are individuals who can always apply to the Prosecutor's Office if they are called. It is unacceptable to collectively detain our colleagues without applying the call procedure, just before the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections."
The crackdown on targeting politicians, lawyers and journalists comes ahead of the crucial presidential and parliamentary elections, which are set to take place on May 14.
The following bar associations have signed the statement: Adana Bar Association, Adıyaman Bar Association, Ağrı Bar Association, Ankara Bar Association, Ardahan Bar Association, Artvin Bar Association, Aydın Bar Association, Balıkesir Bar Association, Batman Bar Association, Bingöl Bar Association, Bitlis Bar Association, Bolu Bar Association, Burdur Bar Association, Mardin Bar Association, Bursa Bar Association, Kastamonu Bar Association, Muş Bar Association, Diyarbakır Bar Association, Siirt Bar Association, Eskişehir Bar Association, Sinop Bar Association, Urfa Bar Association, Hakkari Bar Association, Hatay Bar Association, Iğdır Bar Association, Isparta Bar Association, Tekirdağ Bar Association, Tunceli Bar Association, Van Bar Association, İzmir Bar Association, Kars Bar Association, Yalova Bar Association, Şırnak Bar Association.
