European Lawyers appeal to annul bill lifting immunities of Turkish MP
ELDH[i] is highly alarmed concerning the vote in Turkey’s parliament which approved a bill to amend the Constitution to strip Members of Parliament of their immunity from prosecution, a move that paves the way for the trials of pro-Kurdish and other opposition members of parliament. If the President approves the amendments they will put 138…
The rights of refugees must be respected – they are not to be bargained away
ELDH Appeal to the WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT The United Nation’s Secretary General has chosen Turkey, which is known for atrocious human rights violations, for the World Humanitarian Summit. The World Humanitarian Summit is taking place in Istanbul on 23 and 24 May 2016. There have been many protests against holding the summit in Turkey. This…
Report – Lawyers Delegation to Diyarbakır – 21 to 24 January 2016
From 21 to 24 of January 2016, a delegation of 10 lawyers from Austria, Belgium, Germany and Italy visited Diyarbakır, Turkey. The mission was coordinated by two European lawyers’ organizations—the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and European Democratic Lawyers (EDL)—and the Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane. It was supported by…
THE INDEPENDENCE OF LAWYERS MUST BE RESPECTED, AND THEY MUST NOT BE IDENTIFIED WITH THEIR CLIENTS – FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ESPECIALLY THAT OF ACADEMICS, MUST BE RESPECTED BY THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES.
ELDH Statement ELDH is highly alarmed by the new mass arrest of Turkish citizens. According to Turkish media 320 Turkish citizens have been detained this week. Among them are lawyers, academics, politicians and students. They are suspected by the Turkish authorities of supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). It seems very likely, according to reports…
ELDH REQUESTS INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH OF THE ITALIEN RESEARCHER GIULIO REGENI IN EGYPT
ELDH strongly condemns the killing in Egypt of the Italian researcher Giulio Regeni. Mr. Regeni was a scholar studying independent trade unionism. He disappeared and was tortured to death on the 25 January 2016. ELDH finds the explanations coming from the Egyptian government that Mr. Regeni had been the victim of an accident, of a…
European Lawyers report Massive Human Rights Violations in Diyarbakir (Turkey) due to curfew – immediate international action needed
Press Release A delegation* of 10 lawyers from Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Italy visited Diyarbakir, Turkey, from 21st to 24th of January 2016 to monitor the impact of the curfew on the population. The mission was coordinated by two European lawyers’ organisations, the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and the…
DAY OF THE ENDANGERED LAWYER – 2016
Activities in solidarity with Honduran Lawyers, Judges and Prosecutors demonstrated in many European Cities and outside Europe On 22nd January in many European cities and outside Europe lawyers have organized protests in front of Honduran Embassies and Consulates, in solidarity with Honduran lawyers, judges and prosecutors who have been threatened, attacked and often murdered. 91…
European Lawyers Delegation visits Diyarbakir
Press release A delegation of European lawyers will visit Diyarbakir from 21st to 24th January 2016. The 13 participants come from Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Austria. Two European lawyers’ organisations are supporting this initiative, the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and the European Democratic Lawyers (EDL) and also the “Unione…
Western Sahara: Court of Justice of the European Union annuls EU trade agreement with Morocco
Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 10 December 2015. Front populaire pour la libération de la saguia-el-hamra et du rio de oro (Front Polisario) v Council of the European Union. Case T-512/12. “The Council Decision 2012/497 of 8 March 2012 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of…
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION IN SYRIA
ELDH Statement ELDH expresses deep concern at the humanitarian crisis which is taking place in Syria as a result of the four and half year internal armed conflict, exacerbated by foreign interventions . We support the struggle of the Syrian people against ISIS, Al Nusra and all foreign interventions, none of which are in the…