Lawyers called on the Turkish authorities to stop attacking lawyers.

In an open letter the Bar Council, Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC), International Association of Lawyers, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and Law Society called for an end to the continued detention, prosecution and sentencing of legal professionals.

They voiced concern at reports that at least 580 lawyers have been arrested, 1,539 prosecuted, and 103 sentenced to long-term imprisonment since the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016.

BHRC Chair Kirsty Brimelow QC called the actions of the authorities a ‘stain upon Turkey’s international standing’.

She said: ‘Turkey must start to comply with the international law it has ratified and states need to do more to hold it to account.’