Joint Statement and Urgent Action – Türkiye: Lengthy prison sentences imposed on ÖHD lawyers and TUAD members for lawful professional and human rights work
The undersigned international legal and human rights organisations strongly condemn the conviction and sentencing of ten lawyers who are members of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (Özgürlük İçin Hukukçular Derneği, ÖHD) and of 20 executives and staff of the Prisoners’ Families Solidarity Association (Tutuklu Aileleri ile Dayanışma Derneği, TUAD) by the Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 28 January 2026. The unjust sentences,…
Joint statement – Tunisia: International legal community calls for release of Ahmed Souab ahead of appeal hearing
11 February 2026 The undersigned organisations strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Tunisian lawyer Ahmed Souab and call for his immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside, ahead of the second hearing in his appeal. His prosecution and sentencing constitute a grave violation of his right to freedom…
Joint Statement condemning Denial of Access to Legal Representation in Iran and the Arrest of Lawyers
Trial observations – Turkey – February 2026
ReportLawyers and Civil Society Under Attack in Türkiye, Istanbul Court hearings 5 – 6 February 2026, 10 lawyers convicted ReportAdana Courthouse -Turkey 6 February 2026, lawyer Siar Risvanoglu case
ELDH Statement on the Intensification of Unilateral Coercive Measures against Cuba
Download the statement The European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) strongly condemns the recent decision adopted by the United States administration under former President Donald Trump intensifying unilateral coercive measures against the Republic of Cuba, including the imposition of sanctions and punitive tariffs with extraterritorial effect targeting third States supplying fuel and energy…
Pakistan: Arbitrary arrest and sentencing of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha
The undersigned organisations strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and subsequent conviction of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha and call for their immediate release and measures to ensure the conviction is set aside. On 24 January, a District and Sessions Court in Islamabad sentenced the lawyers to 17 years’ imprisonment…
ELDH Statement: On the escalating violations of international law and the threat to Kurdish population in North and East Syria (Rojava)
Download the statement The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH) expresses its grave concern over the renewed and escalating attacks against Kurdish populations in North and East Syria (Rojava). These attacks constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and place entire communities at imminent risk….
Turkey: Drop Bogus Charges against Istanbul Bar Association Leadership (Joint Statement)
The continued prosecution of the president and 10 executive board members of the Istanbul Bar Association, and the prosecutor’s request for their conviction on terrorism charges are a damning reflection of the troubled state of the rule of law and democratic norms in Turkey today, 38 human rights and lawyers’ organisations said today. They called…
On the Illegal Act of Aggression by the United States Against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Download the statement We strongly and unequivocally condemn the acts of aggression carried out by the United States against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. These actions constitute a grave and flagrant violation of international law, undermine the international legal order, and pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Violations of the United Nations…
Protest against the detention of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami
Tunisia: The international legal community condemns the detention of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami 16 December, 2025 The 23 undersigned legal organisations express their deep concern following the arbitrary detention and conviction on 2 December 2025 in Tunisia of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami, sentenced to five years in prison solely…