European Democratic Lawyers
The undersigned bar associations and lawyers’ rights organisations express their deep concern over the detention of lawyer Ruken Gülağacı on 20 May 2025. On 21 May, the Criminal Peace Judgeship issued a house arrest order against Ms Gülağacı—an alarming escalation that further compounds our concern. Ms Gülağacı is a member of the Istanbul Bar Association and an executive board member […]
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AED- EDL firmly condemns the revocation of the Istanbul Bar President İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the dissolution of the Board for alleged acts of terrorist propaganda. This dissolution follows the judicial procedure initiated on January 14, 2025 by the Istanbul Prosecutor General in retaliation for the statement issued by the Bar Association on December 21, 2024 condemning the deaths of […]
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There is a historic opportunity for lasting peace for Turkey and the region. Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace and a democratic society, shared with the public on February 27, 2025, is a critical step towards ending the long-standing conflict and violence and initiating a democratic resolution process. This call not only carries great potential for the stability and protection of […]
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The Erosion of Legal Independence and Professional Rights in BELARUS
This year, the Day of the Endangered Lawyer is dedicated to the plight of lawyers und human rights defenders in Belarus. The findings of the report, on which our claims are based, indicate a troubling deterioration of the situation of lawyers in Belarus since 2020. In fact, there seems to be persistent trend in Belarus where legal practitioners face increasing criminal sanctions, arbitrary detentions, and systemic interference in their professional duties.
Since 2010, the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer has been observed annually on 24 January, organised first by the AED-EDL and then by the Coalition for the Endangered Lawyer, a network of national and international legal organisations and bar associations. The day aims to draw attention to the plight faced by lawyers in the exercise of their profession in […]
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Download the request Ms. Mai Sato UN Special Rapporteur on the Islamic Republic of Iran Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Ms. Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders Mr. Alain Berset Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr. Michael O’Flaherty Commissioner for Human Rights of the […]
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The undersigned organizations vehemently condemn the detention of Attorney Şiar Rişvanoğlu, who is registered with the Adana Bar Association and a member of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), following a police raid on his residence and subsequent arrest at the Çukurova airport in Tarsus. On the morning of 26 November 2024, authorities executed a raid at Attorney Rişvanoğlu’s home without […]
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We, the AED-EDL European Lawyers’ Association, have come to know that on the 25th of October, lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz was taken into custody. At the moment of his detention, lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz, had just finished his plea as part of the defense counsel of his client and was exercising his profession. Lawyer Bedirhan Sarsılmaz of the Istanbul bar association, is […]
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The General Assembly of the European Democratic Lawyers (AED), which took place on February 16-17 2024, marked the beginning of a new era in the fight for fundamental principles such as the rule of law, human rights, and fair trial. During this critical period, for the first time in the history of AED, a figure who had not previously served […]
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In the morning hours of the 25th of April 2023, during a wide police operation, 191 people, including 25 lawyers and other members of civil society in Turkey were arrested and their houses searched. Of the 25 lawyers initially arrested, 16 have been released under judicial control, following deposition and interrogation procedures. 4 lawyers are still under dentention. All of […]
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