European Democratic Lawyers
BERLIN
MADRID
BRUSSELS
ISTANBUL 
ANKARA ADANA
Today in Egypt, human rights activists, lawyers, political activists and independent journalists, all have to live with their phone calls being tapped, endless smear campaigns and hate speech from state-affiliated media as well as continuous harassment and intimidation from the authorities. Egypt is going through the most serious human rights crisis in its history. Every day security forces arbitrarily displace 3 or 4 people (AI Secretary General, 18 Dec. 2016).
After the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi the human rights situation deteriorated dramatically. The government severely restricted freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. The authorities have taken harsh actions against dissidents, tens of thousands have been arbitrarily arrested, and many of them tortured during custody. Security forces who killed demonstrators have not been held accountable. After harsh unfair trials, hundreds of people have received prison or even death sentences. Victims of this persecution include not only alleged members and supporters of the Muslim brotherhood but also any other opponents to the present government, in particular alleged members of left-wing organizations and human rights activists.
This relentless persecution can even lead to arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, harsh sentences after unfair trials and sometimes even torture, enforced disappearance at the hands of the state or death in custody as a result of medical negligence. This is pretty much the same list of human rights violations suffered by the people whose rights such defenders are meant to be protecting through their activism and work. Victims of this persecution are not only alleged members and supporters of the Muslim brotherhood but also any other opponents to the present government in particular alleged members of left-wing organizations.
Since General Al Sissi came to power, the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood has spread to the entire democratic opposition, the media, NGOs, minorities and civil society.
Lawyers pay a heavy price. Many of them are victims of arrest, conviction, threats, travel bans from the territory and other restrictions on the practice of their profession.
By so doing, the Egyptian government violates the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990.
See our Report on Egypt
The AED calls for demonstrations in front of the Egyptian embassies all over Europe to show our solidarity with our Egyptian colleagues in the context of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer.
The Day of the Endangered Lawyer is supported by the Foundation of the Day of the Endangered lawyer and the AED as well as by IAPL, ELDH, IDHAE, CNB-OIAD, CCBE, UIA, Endangered lawyers, Lawyers for Lawyers. It is supported by many Bar Associations all over Europe and outside Europe.
Bruxelles, Paris, Barcelone, le 4 janvier 2018
Monsieur le Président de la République,
Demain vous allez recevoir RECEP ERDOGAN, Président de la Turquie.
Quelques soient les enjeux diplomatiques ou autres existant entre nos pays, vous ne pouvez ignorer la situation de non-droit dans laquelle se trouvent aujourd’hui des avocats, des magistrats, des parlementaires, des journalistes, des syndicalistes… Au nom de la lutte contre le terrorisme et ce depuis le coup d’état manqué du 15 juillet 2016.
La répression arbitraire ne cesse de s’aggraver; les détentions dans des conditions assimilables à des traitements inhumains et dégradants, sans véritable accès à une défense effective se multiplient.
Les avocats qui osent encore tenter de remplir leurs fonctions sont immédiatement stigmatisés à leur tour et empêchés par des inculpations et des incarcérations sans aucun fondement. Notre organisation est particulièrement inquiète sur le sort réservé à nos confrères détenus depuis plusieurs mois sans qu’il soit possible de savoir quels sont les faits réels qui leur sont reprochés.
L’AED, association européenne d’avocats démocrates, particulièrement attachées au respect des droits de la défense et à la protection de ceux qui se trouvent en première ligne de cette défense, les avocats eux même, vous demande, Monsieur le Président, en votre qualité de représentant de nos valeurs fondamentales de liberté et de justice d’interpeller fermement votre hôte pour que nos confrères soient libérés sans délai et que les poursuites engagées contre eux soient immédiatement abandonnées.
Nous soulignons qu’un certain nombre de nos confrères actuellement incarcérés sont membres de notre association, et tout particulièrement Selçuk KOZAGACLI et l’ensemble des avocats du çHD.
Pascale Taelman
Avocate au Barreau du Val de Marne
Présidente