European Interest

New report: Incarceration of Turkish lawyers

FLICKR/ARANI BANERJEE/CC BY-ND 2.0

On the eve of 5th April which is Lawyers’ Day in Turkey, The Arrested Lawyers Initiative published new report entitled  “Incarceration of Turkish Lawyers | Unjust Arrests and Convictions (2016-2019).”

According to the report, 1546 Turkish lawyers have been prosecuted and 598 lawyers have been arrested since 2016 July. And so far, 274 Turkish lawyers have been sentenced to 1762 years in prison by the first instance courts under article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The report reveals that all persecuted lawyers are being charged with terror-linked offenses; the main two accusations directed against them are membership to an armed terrorist organisation, and forming and leading an armed terrorist organisation. Article 314 of the Penal Code criminalises the establishment and commanding of (Article 314/1), as well as membership (Article 314/2) to an armed organisation. Under the Turkish Penal Code, these two offences attract 7,5 to 22,5 years imprisonment.

To read and download the report, click here

Explore more