Izmir- The members of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) and Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) in Izmir released a press statement in front of the Izmir Courthouse to protest the recent arrest and detention operations against their colleagues. Holding a banner reading, “Imprisoned lawyers are our honor”, the lawyers chanted slogans such as, “Lawyers have not been silenced and they will never be silenced” and “Imprisoned lawyers are our honor”.

‘The arrest of Gülhan Kaya shows the recent attacks on lawyers’

The statement read by lawyer İmdat Ataş said, “Gülhan Kaya was arrested on June 12 for her professional activities. Her arrest shows the recent attacks on lawyers. As part of the same investigation, police raided the houses of lawyer Taylan Savran and ÖHD director Sezin Uçar. Lawyer Taylan Savran was detained in the house raid. As part of the same investigation, lawyer Kader Tonç went to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to testify; however, she was detained there. Then, our two colleagues were released under judicial control. As it is known, a similar detention operation was conducted against the members of the ÖHD in Amed a short while ago and some of our colleagues were detained as part of the same investigation.”

‘Our professional activities are investigated’

Noting that the professional activities of the lawyers are investigated, the statement said, “We are asked why we go to prisons, why we visit our clients and why we share social media posts about our imprisoned colleagues.”

 The statement emphasized that detentions and arrests will continue unless a united and organized struggle is waged against every attack against lawyers. “We will struggle until ÖHD member colleague Gülhan Kaya and all our colleagues are released from prison. All lawyers and our colleagues in prisons should be released immediately.”