‘State is obligated to ensure fair trial’

* Photo: Eylem Nazlıer/Twitter - "Lawyers of the people are on a death fast"

Click to read the article in Turkish

On a death fast for their right to a fair trial, arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal were not released despite a Forensic Medicine Institution report indicating that "they are not in a state to stay in prison" and taken to two separate hospitals in İstanbul on July 30, 2020.

Hospitalized in Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Ebru Timtik has been on a death fast for 223 days as of today (August 12). Hospitalized in Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, Aytaç Ünsal has also been on a death fast for 192 days.

'They are faced with a threat of forced intervention'

Within this context, representatives from the Human Rights Association (İHD), Health and Social Service Laborers' Union (SES) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) made a joint statement for the press yesterday, raising concerns about the condition of the lawyers.

Meeting in front of Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, where Timtik is currently held, the organizations opened a banner that read, "May justice be served, Ebru and Aytaç live."

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), addressing the crowd there, İHD İstanbul Branch Chair Gülseren Yoleri has said that the death fasting lawyers' demand for fair trial must be fulfilled by the state. 

She has also emphasized that the state is obligated to ensure fair trial even when no one requests a fair trial.

Underlining that Timtik and Ünsal have not been released despite a forensic medical report indicating that they cannot stay in prison and they are now faced with a threat of forced medical intervention at the hospital, Gülseren Yoleri has said, "We want the state to take a step for not only the fair trial of both Ebru and Aytaç, but their right to life as well."

'Even their most basic needs are not met'

TİHV İstanbul Representative Ümit Efe has also indicated that "the fact that their most basic needs such as hot water and a glass are not met shows the atrocity and torture that they are subjected to."

Taking the floor after Efe, SES İstanbul Anatolian Branch Chair Erdal Güzel has referred to the death fasts in recent years and said:

"The basic approach of health professionals is to ensure that people live in the healthiest way possible. These friends of ours should stand trial again and receive health services by their own will. Ethically speaking, a forced healing is an approach that we do not accept." (AS/SD)