Lawyers from the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Halkin Hukuk Bürosu (HHB) were arrested again within 24 hours after their release. The detention of lawyers from the hearings and the arrest of the lawyer Ömer Kavili for his alleged procedural deliberations by the court have drawn attention to the increasing pressure they are facing.
Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair and Istanbul Bar Association President candidate, lawyer Eren Keskin, talked about the increasing attacks against lawyers with ANF.
“We are all under pressure and trapped”, said Keskin, summarising the current situation faced by lawyers.
“We have experienced similar repressive processes in the past, – added Keskin – but we had not yet experienced a period in which the judiciary is connected to only a single center”.
The attacks on lawyers, added Keskin, is an attack on the most active protesters against such an annihilation of the law.
Keskin said that the lawyers dealing with political cases are the ones especially targeted by great pressure. She insisted that the power that wants to block the democratic struggle from every front is directed towards lawyers who represent an important element of the struggle.
Keskin reminded that a large number of lawyers were held hostage in prisons because they exercised their professions. She also pointed out that she herself was about to go to prison having a sentence of 12.5 years imprisonment hanging on her.
Keskin said that the AKP government has allowed a reconciliation with the so called Deep State, by allowing figures such as Mehmet Ağar, Tansu Çiller and Musa Çitil from the ’90s to get on the stage again.
As an example of such reconciliation, Keskin pointed out to the repression and ban faced by the Saturday Mothers, lawyers, political parties and democratic mass organizations.
The IHD Co-Chair underlined that the struggle for law does not end. She added that lawyers will not swear allegiance and will continue the struggle without interruption.