Bar Associations Union of Turkey held an emergency board meeting after an appeal by its chairperson Metin Feyzioğlu.
The union board reached the following decisions by consensus:
* The union will apply to Council of Europe General Secretary concerning the tensive acts of the government and the practices of security forces reaching to a level of violence on citizens according to Article 52 of European Declaration of Human Rights.
* The union will also submit applications to other international institutions on the same matter.
* The union will submit judicial and administrative applications on those from Health Ministry who launched preliminary investigation processes on volunteer doctors during Gezi Park events.
* The union will submit judicial and administrative applications on officials who abused their duties by not forming emergency infirmaries during social unrests.
* Providing that social unrest resumed with the observation of unlawful practices [of the government], bar chairpersons will discuss the issue and submit further applications.
Article 52 of European Declaration of Human Rights on “Investigations held by General Secretary” cites the following:
“Every high signer of the convention is required to make necessary explanations on the practice of convention article in their domestic law upon a request by Council of Europe General Secretary.”
The application based on Article 52 permits to inspect whether Turkey is adequately respecting the declaration. (AS/BM)
* Photo credit: Berk Özkan/ AA
