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In solidarity with Turkish lawyers, the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) has condemned the ‘systemic failure’ of the courts in neglecting to deal with thousands arrested and detained following last year’s aborted coup.
It has written to the President of the Turkish Constitutional Court, Zühtü Arslan, calling on him to address the thousands of cases, including those of lawyers and journalists, pending since Turkey’s abortive coup in July 2016.
Since then, none of the 80,000 cases has been heard or resolved and more than 30,000 people remain in detention.
BHRC argued that the delay breached the defendants’ rights under Art 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It followed an open letter to Prime Minister, Theresa May, in advance of her meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdo an, in January highlighting the systematic persecution of lawyers and judges and labelling the Turkish government’s actions ‘an egregious attack on democracy’.
BHRC chair Kirsty Brimelow QC said: ‘There appears to be a systemic failure of the courts in Turkey, representing a block to access to justice. Fundamental rights to liberty are being violated.
‘BHRC is acting in solidarity with the lawyers in detention but also in its capacity as lawyers seeking to uphold international human rights law around the world.’
In solidarity with Turkish lawyers, the Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) has condemned the ‘systemic failure’ of the courts in neglecting to deal with thousands arrested and detained following last year’s aborted coup.
It has written to the President of the Turkish Constitutional Court, Zühtü Arslan, calling on him to address the thousands of cases, including those of lawyers and journalists, pending since Turkey’s abortive coup in July 2016.
Since then, none of the 80,000 cases has been heard or resolved and more than 30,000 people remain in detention.
BHRC argued that the delay breached the defendants’ rights under Art 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It followed an open letter to Prime Minister, Theresa May, in advance of her meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdo an, in January highlighting the systematic persecution of lawyers and judges and labelling the Turkish government’s actions ‘an egregious attack on democracy’.
BHRC chair Kirsty Brimelow QC said: ‘There appears to be a systemic failure of the courts in Turkey, representing a block to access to justice. Fundamental rights to liberty are being violated.
‘BHRC is acting in solidarity with the lawyers in detention but also in its capacity as lawyers seeking to uphold international human rights law around the world.’
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
