June 14 declared ‘International Fair Trial Day’
* Photo: International Fair Trial Day Twitter account
Click to read the article in Turkish
Lawyers organizations and bar associations from European countries have declared June 14 "International Fair Trial Day." They will grant an award on this day in memory of lawyer Ebru Timtik, who lost her life while she was on a death fast for her right to a fair trial.
Speaking to bianet on behalf of the organizations, lawyer Ceren Uysal has said, "What has set us all in motion is the passing of Ebru."
"After a lawyer had to lay down her life for the right to a fair trial, we have felt responsible to raise this struggle waged for such a fundamental right. We have come together, thinking that a step needs to be taken so that no one has to die for their right to a fair trial in other geographies."
The international law organizations and bars, having struggled for Timtik at the time, have also announced their decision in following words:
"In recognition of her sacrifice, and in order to focus attention on the plight of those in countries around the globe who are facing prosecution in circumstances where fair trial principles are not being observed or respected, a number of international bar associations and lawyers organisations have come together to arrange an annual 'International Fair Trial Day' which will be observed every year on 14 June.
"Steps are also being undertaken to introduce a new annual Ebru Timtik Award to recognise an individual or an organisation who has or which has made an exceptional contribution towards securing fair trial rights in the country on which the Fair Trial Day is focusing for the year in question."
A conference to be held every year
According to the statement of bar associations and lawyer organizations, each year a conference will be held, either online or at a physical location in a country chosen because of the level of concern with regard to the lack of respect for fair trial rights in that jurisdiction at that time.
The steering group consisting of Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), European Bars Federation (FBE), European Democratic Lawyers (EDL-AED), French National Bar Council (CNB), International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), International Association of Lawyers (UIA), International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), Italian National Bar Council (CNF), Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers for Lawyers (L4L), Ayşe Bingöl Demir and Şerife Ceren Uysal have agreed that the first conference will be held as a virtual event on June 14, 2021 and will focus on fair trial rights in Turkey.
There will also be events in the countries across the world on each Fair Trial Day to raise awareness of the situation in the focus country.
What happened?
On a death fast for her right to a fair trial, arrested lawyer Ebru Timtik lost her life on the 238th day of her death fast at Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul on August 27, 2020.
After arrested lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, also on a death fast, was released on probation by the Court of Cassation, he ended his death fast on September 4 and accepted treatment by independent physicians.
Examining the conviction of the ÇHD Lawyers, the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld all verdicts, except for the ones given for Barkın Timtik, Selçuk Kozağaçlı and Ezgi Çakır.
The Court of Cassation indicated that as Ebru Timtik lost her life, there was no ground for handing down a ruling in her case. It was ruled that the execution of lawyer Aytaç Ünsal's prison sentence should be deferred until his treatment was completed; however, he has been arrested.
CLICK - Court of Cassation upholds prison sentences of lawyers 'with its conscience'
(AS/SD)