Türkiye has caught the attention of the global community following a joint statement of condemnation by 27 bar associations, human rights organizations, and legal groups from eight countries. The criticism is centered on Türkiye’s alleged mistreatment of lawyers, particularly those who specialize in criminal law and human rights according to the pronouncement. This statement followed a fact-finding mission within the nation.
The delegation, present in Türkiye from November 6 to 9, included esteemed legal entities such as Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (FBE), International Observatory of Lawyers (OIAD), Law Society of England and Wales, La Conférence des Bâtonniers – France, New York City Bar Association, and Union Internationale des Avocats – Institute for Rule of Law (UIA-IROL).
The collective statement from the groups highlighted grave concerns around ongoing instances of harassment, random detentions, and mistreatment of lawyers within Türkiye. The country was recently ranked 116th among 140 countries on the rule of law index published by the World Justice Project (WJP) in 2022.
Building on these concerns, the delegation expressed deep worry over the conditions of lawyers’ detentions in Türkiye, indicating a disregard for the globally accepted prison standards such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. The group called for an end to any form of intimidation or harassment targeted at lawyers while underscoring the need to maintain the independence of the legal profession. They further stressed on the importance of complying with international law, most notably the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
The international critique followed an April joint statement from thirty-three bar associations in Türkiye, calling for the removal of all restrictions on access to legal counsel and the release of lawyers detained under a wider investigation targeting Kurdish-linked groups.
The original statement and details can be found here.