Events, demonstrations banned in Ankara ahead of ‘Grand Defense Rally’

* Photo: Twitter (Erinç Sağkan / April 23)

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The Governor's Office of Ankara has imposed a ban on meetings and demonstrations for 15 days ahead of bar associations' "Grand Defense Rally" against the bill that will enable the establishment of more than one bar in a city with over 5,000 registered lawyers.

The rally is planned to be held in the capital on July 3.

CLICK - 'Grand Defense Rally' to be held in Ankara against the bill to 'split bar associations'

Releasing a written statement, the Governor's Office has referred to a recent surge in the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, which was also expressed by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca yesterday.

Accordingly, the office has announced that all types of meetings and demonstrations have been banned in the capital city of Ankara for a period of 15 days "considering that it might lead the disease to spread even faster if people come together in large groups."

While the decision has been taken as per the Law no. 2911, it has been underlined that "all activities that might cause people to come together in large groups such as meetings, demonstrations etc. will be restricted."

The Office has unanimously agreed that "those who do not abide by this decision will face sanctions as per the Law no. 1593 on Public Health."

CLICK - Bill to 'split bar associations' in three cities submitted to Parliamentary Speaker's Office

Bill submitted on June 30

Foreseeing the establishment of more than one bar association in a city, the Bill on Amendments to the Attorneys' Act and Some Laws was submitted to the Parliamentary Speaker's Office yesterday (June 30).

According to the bill jointly prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) MPs, lawyers can register in any bar association if there are more than one bar association in the city. The bill foresees that a bar association will be established by a minimum of 2,000 lawyers if there are over 5,000 lawyers in a city.

According to the figures of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), while 17,598 lawyers are registered in Ankara Bar Association, 46,052 lawyers are registered in İstanbul Bar and 9,612 lawyers in İzmir. The total number of registered lawyers across the country is 127,691.

That being the case, the bill "to split bar associations" is likely to affect these three bars with over 5,000 lawyers.

'Defence chain' by lawyers

* Photo: Twitter

Within this context, lawyers' organizations protested the bill by forming a "defense chain" inside Ankara Courthouse.

While lawyers from the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), Association of Freedom for Lawyers (ÖHD), Social Law, Lawyers' Solidarity, Lawyers for Democracy and Struggle for Justice joined the protest, they were also supported by Ankara Bar Association Chair Erinç Sağkan and Executive Board members, as reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

Addressing the lawyers in front of the room allocated for the bar association, lawyer Denizcan Aydın said, "The aim of this law is to leave citizens defenseless in courtrooms and to leave lawyers without an organization in police stations, courthouses and any other field. We are against this bill. This multiple system is an attempt to liquidate lawyers and defense."

Following this statement, lawyers formed a human chain by holding a long ribbon. When it ended, the chain could reach from the fifth floor to the first.

Opening banners that read "Defense cannot be silenced", "We defend the defense", "We will stand in the way of this law," lawyers also chanted the slogans, "Defense has not hushed, it will not" and "We don't hush, we don't fear, we don't obey." Lawyers also chanted slogans for Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, two arrested lawyers who have been on a hunger strike for their right to a fair trial. "Aytaç and Ebru are our honor," cried out the lawyers.

The protest ended in applause and slogans. (RT/SD)