Press Release – For Immediate Release Date: July 11, 2025, Location: Hasana Cave, Iraqi Kurdistan Download the statement The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), represented by its Co-President Urko Aiartza, has participated as part of the international witness group at the symbolic destruction of arms ceremony held today in …
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 …
Download the statement in Spanish: Asociaciones de juristas piden a Turquía dar pasos hacia la paz tras la declaración de Öcalan 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 …
THE TURKISH STATE IS COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY President: PERMANENT PEOPLES’ TRIBUNAL Vicepresidents: Secretary General: Download the full statement This is the preliminary statement of the panel of judges of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal, 54th session, sitting in Brussels on 5 and 6 February 2025 to decide on the responsibility of senior Turkish officials for alleged …
Since the onset of the Syrian conflict, the region of Rojava in North and East Syria has emerged as a pioneering model of inclusive governance, promoting democratic principles, peaceful coexistence, gender equality, cultural diversity, and social justice for diverse communities including Kurds, Arab, Yazidi, and Christian populations.However, since 2018, North and East Syria has faced …
The international legal and human rights community is deeply concerned by prosecuting authorities’ recent criminal investigation and lawsuit against the Istanbul Bar Association, particularly its President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the executive board. These actions stem from a statement issued by the Bar Association on 21 December 2024, drawing attention to the deaths of journalists Nazım …
TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY (google.com) Dear Minister, Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş, who are detained in the İmralı F-Type High Security Prison, are unlawfully prevented from seeing their lawyers. While Abdullah Öcalan has not been allowed to see his lawyer since August 7, 2019, …
Dear Excellencies, The European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights, a non-profit organisation, which currently unites lawyers from 23 European countries, write to you with great urgency and profound concern regarding the continued detention of the ship CONSCIENCE at a Turkish port. As advocates for international law and human rights, we call on …
Download the statement On 6 February 2024, after an armed attack on the largest court building (Çağlayan Courthouse) in Istanbul, two assailants were killed by the police. According to the police, the attackers were members of the DHKP-C. Following this attack, a number of offices of various organisations in Istanbul were raided and vandalized by …
Widespread mistreatment of lawyers in Turkey This week, a delegation of 21 bar associations, human rights organisations and legal groups representing eight countries gathered in Turkey for a fact-finding mission on the Turkish government’s treatment of criminal law and human rights lawyers. * A joint statement by the delegation said: “As the mission draws to …