Bar associations' union steps in as lawyers blocked at entrance of Ankara

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Bar association chairs who have marched to Ankara in protest of the planned changes in the Attorneys' Act have started a sit-in protest on the Eskişehir road after the police prevented them from entering the capital.

Lawyers in various provinces read out statements in front of courthouses to denounce the police's move in Ankara.

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality sent tents for the lawyers stuck at the entrance of the city but the police did not allow them to set up the tents either while beating some of the lawyers.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and the Turkish Pharmacists' Association released statements in support of the lawyers.

"Defense is on the march"

TBB Chair: I wouldn't walk, but they should be able to do

Metin Feyzioğlu, the chair of the Union of Bar Associations of Turkey (TBB) made a statement after meeting Mustafa Şentop, the speaker of the parliament.

"Marching is a right. Bar association chairs should march," he said, adding, however, that the way the TTB has chosen was not marching and he would not march.

"The right to march is a basic constitutional right. Our demand is that our bar association chairs that came to there should be let go. They will walk for 150 meters. After that 150-meter walk, they want to go to Anıtkabir. This doesn't have an aspect that disrupts the public order.

"We have stepped in to soften the situation. I have also spoken with the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior. They will meet at a common point."

Turkish Medical Association: We will stand with lawyers

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) released a written statement denouncing the prevention of lawyers from entering the city.

"We know that these obstructions targeting bar association chairs are a part of attempts to obstruct and oppress the physicians who claim their profession and the TTB, the organization of physicians," it said.

"According to our Constitution, everyone has the right to organize peaceful meetings and demonstrations without permission in advance. No one has the power to arbitrarily prevent the exercise of this right, which is clearly stated in the Constitution."

Turkish Pharmacists' Association also denounced the police's move and said that it was a constitutional right to hold a march.

The Ankara branch of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB/UCTEA) released a statement in support of the lawyers as well.

"The march of the defense is the march of all of us," it said. (AS/VK)