Seven people detained while holding a statement for death fasting lawyers

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A group of people gathered in front of the residence of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Üsküdar, İstanbul today (August 27) and wanted to hold a statement for the press in solidarity with arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, who have been on a death fast for their right to a fair trial.

However, the police prevented the group. In a statement released by the People's Law Bureau (HHB), it has been indicated, "Our clients who wanted to hold a statement for the press in support of People's Lawyers on a death fast in front of the president's house in Kısıklı have been detained."

The following people are reportedly in detention: Sevcan Akdoğan, Ali Hasan Akgül, Beyhan Gün, Turgut Onur, Hüseyin Kütük, Eren Yılmaz, Özgür Can Erbiz and Bakican Işık

What happened?

On a death fast in prison for their right to a fair trial, arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal were not released despite a Forensic Medical report indicating that "they were not in a state to stay in prison." Shortly afterwards, they were taken to two separate hospitals on July 30.

An application was made to the Constitutional Court for arrested lawyers Timtik and Ünsal on August 10, 2020.

Rejecting death fasting lawyers' request for release, the Constitutional Court neither examined the medical reports nor their statements on not being treated at hospital. "There is no serious danger posed to their material or immaterial integrity," it has concluded.

On a death fast for her right to a fair trial, Ebru Timtik is currently held in Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul while Aytaç Ünsal is held in Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital, which is also in İstanbul. Both hospitals are pandemic hospitals. (PT/SD)