Lawyers Detained in İzmir Released

* Photograph: Mezopotamya Agency

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The Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD) and the closed Preogressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) came together in front of İzmir Courthouse today (August 22) and protested the appointment of trustees to the Metropolitan Municipalities of Van, Diyarbakır and Mardin.

While the lawyers were about to make a statement for the press, the police surrounded the lawyers with shields and told them that they would not allow the statement on the ground of a 10-day ban on demonstrations and events imposed by the Governorship of İzmir.

While the lawyers were expressing their objections against the ban, police officers intervened against the group.

Insult and 27 detentions

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency, the police battered the lawyers and drew Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Erol Katırcıoğlu away from the group. The officers also insulted the journalists reporting on the protest.

One journalist and 26 lawyers were detained after the police intervention. The detained have been released later in the day after health checks.

'This struggle will not end here'

Making a statement after the intervention of the police, HDP MP Katırcıoğlu has emphasized the right to assembly and demonstration and stated:

"This right of ours cannot be changed by a decision of a minister or governor. We naturally have our right to make a statement and our friends have come here today to use this right.

"This struggle will not end here. Thus, let's stay calm. Let's try to stand side by side with the ones who side with democracy and freedom."

Bar Association Chair prevented

Coming to the scene of incident after the intervention, İzmir Bar Association Chair Özkan Yücel and bar executives were also prevented by the police.

The detained have been referred to the Yeşilyurt Public Hospital for a health check. The lawyers are expected to be referred to Provincial Directorate of Security from the hospital.

The following people were detained:

Bahattin Özdemir, Fırat Sandalcı, ÖHD Co-Chair Fatma Demirer, İHD Branch Chair Zafer İncin, Mecit Yıldırım, Nezahat Akın, Şükran Eroğlu, Sozdar Ortaç, Mehmet Baran Selanik, Dilan Gündüz, Hatice Aslan Atabay, Yunus Emre Güneş, Sadiye Unutur, Leyla Çelik, Ferhat Konur, Emel Diril, Veysi Çetin, Şule Hızal Arslan, Erdoğan Akdoğdu, Aysun Kilivan Sidal, Gül Kireçkaya, İmdat Ataş, Nergiz Tuba Arslan, Hazal Aydın, Ertan Güngör and Seyri Sokak reporter Oktay İnci.

Statement of support by Diyarbakır Bar Association

The Diyarbakır Bar Association has released a statement in support and solidarity for the detained lawyers in İzmir. "The profession of attorneyship requires defending fundamental rights and freedoms as well", the Bar Association has emphasized in its statement.

Referring to the police violence against the lawyers as "unacceptable", the Diyarbakır Bar has stated, "We stand with our colleagues who were subjected to torture and ill treatment."

"The attack against our colleagues and their ensuing detention by being handcuffed from behind, this blow dealt to the defense, which represents the pursuit of law and justice, is a continuation of the blow dealt to the politics with the appointment of trustees", the Bar has underlined.

The Association has also demanded that the detained lawyers be released immediately and "an immediate legal and administrative action be taken against the law enforcement agencies and the responsible parties who committed the act of ill treatment and torture." (PT/SD)