UK-based Bar Human Rights Committee Report (BHRC) prepared an opinion report on the lawsuits against former Co-Chair of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtaş and Co-Director of Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA), Atty. Veysel Ok. BHRC trial observer Pete Weatherby prepared the report and based it on his observations during the hearings he tracked in his visit to Turkey in June. The Turkish government was called to relieve the pressure on legislation and judicial bodies in the country, to strengthen judicial independence as well as to provide an environment that would allow lawyers to perform their profession without risk.
The report underlined that the prosecution of Ok in accordance with Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) due to a speech he gave for Free Thought Daily on December 25, 2015, is a violation of freedom of expression. The arrest of Demirtaş, despite the European Court of Human Rights Decree on his release, was pointed out to have a political dimension. The BHRC report especially criticised arbitrary arrests, application of the right to freedom of expression in Turkey, and prosecution by an unbiased, independent and authorised court.
Please click here for the full report.
03.09.2019
mlsaturkey.com