20 people, including 10 lawyers, have been detained with house raids in Diyarbakır, Urfa and Şırnak on March 12 within the investigation started by Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 17 of those detained were released with judicial measures. Attorney Sevda Çelik Özbingöl, Kurdish writer Halil Çay and İlyas Çakır were arrested and sent to Urfa Type-T Closed Prison.
Urfa Bar Association Chairman Abdullah Öncel indicated that Özbingöl was arrested based on his professional activities and that they will keep on fighting until his release. Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairman Cihan Aydın also indicated that Özbingöl was arrested due to his professional activities as well as his meetings with clients and a secret witness statement, further stating that Turkey is facing a serious legal crisis and that this crisis has spread to the attorneys who spend effort to help victim citizens to reach to justice.
18.03.2020
gazetekarinca.com