Investigation against İstanbul Bar over picture of death fasting lawyer

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An investigation has been launched against the executives of İstanbul Bar Association on the ground that the picture of Ebru Timtik, the arrested death fasting lawyer, was hung on its building after her passing.

As reported by Cumhuriyet newspaper, the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating the Bar Association Chair and Executive Board members over the picture of lawyer Ebru Timtik, who lost her life on the 238th day of her death fast for a fair trial.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reportedly first asked for the names of İstanbul Bar executives and then launched an investigation against 11 executives, including İstanbul Bar Chair Mehmet Durakoğlu.

Speaking to Cumhuriyet about the issue, Durakoğlu has said, "It is something political. There is no crime, but a fabricated situation."

What happened?

Death fasting for her right to a fair trial together with arrested lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, arrested lawyer Ebru Timtik lost her life on August 27 on the 238th day of her death fast. The next day, a commemoration ceremony was held for Timtik, who was a member of the İstanbul Bar, in front of the bar building. A banner with Timtik's picture was also hung on the building.

While Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu targeted the İstanbul Bar by saying, "I strongly condemn the ones who hung the picture of a terrorist organization member on the İstanbul Bar Association," Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül also said, "It is unacceptable that the bar association has become a backyard for illegal and marginal structures."

Targeted by these statements, the İstanbul Bar also released a statement and said that the banner was not hung by the decision of the bar:

"Contrary to what the Minister of Interior declared, the banner was taken down by the personnel of the bar, rather than by security forces. The security forces were a witness to this. As the sign of its attitude at this point, the İstanbul Bar Association hung a Turkish Flag on the building."

Speaking in the new legal year opening ceremony, President and ruling AKP Chair Erdoğan also targeted the bar association, saying, "In the next period, we will make what is necessary to cut the bloody road extending from being attorneys to terrorists." (AS/SD)