Human Rights Honorary Award of Union of Turkish Bar Associations to Tahir Elçi

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On December 10 Human Rights Day, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) announced that the Human Rights Honorary Award of the union has been given to Tahir Elçi, who was the Chair of Diyarbakır Bar Association and murdered on November 28, 2015 in Sur, Diyarbakır.

Speaking about the award, Chair of the TBB Metin Feyzioğlu stated, "It has been agreed that Human Rights Honorary Award of the TBB will be given to our deceased Chair Tahir Elçi. Every lawyer is a human rights defender."

Feyzioğlu made a statement at the international symposium entitled "Protection of Human Rights Defender Lawyers", which was jointly held by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) and the Council of Europe on the occasion of the December 10 Human Rights Day.

In his speech, Feyzioğlu said, "The executive board of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations convened on December 10 Human Rights Day and we have agreed to award the Union of Turkish Bar Associations Human Rights Honorary Award to lawyer Tahir Elçi, our esteemed colleague and brother, who paid the price of his struggle with his life."

"Everyone needs a lawyer one day"

Emphasizing that no differentiation can be made between a lawyer who defends human rights and a lawyer who does not, Feyzioğlu "condemned all types of violence directed to lawyers."

Feyzioğlu further stated, "I am once again inviting each and every television series, politician and civilian opinion leader, who provoke such attacks, to think. Because everyone needs a lawyer one day." (HA/SD)