The General Assembly of the European Democratic Lawyers (AED), which took place on February 16-17 2024, marked the beginning of a new era in the fight for fundamental principles such as the rule of law, human rights, and fair trial.
During this critical period, for the first time in the history of AED, a figure who had not previously served as president, Lawyer Selçuk Kozağaçlı, was elected as honorary president. Despite being unjustly and arbitrarily detained, Selçuk Kozağaçlı never wavered in his fight for justice. His imprisonment did not shake his determination and belief; on the contrary, it further strengthened the struggle for justice and freedom among many legal professionals.
Selçuk Kozağaçlı’s honorary presidency will clarify and strengthen AED’s path, which is based on the supremacy of law and the commitment to defending human rights. According to Selçuk Kozağaçlı, “Whether defendant or defense counsel, every lawyer in the courtroom is proof that this noble profession does not surrender to fascism, its underground judiciary, or its corrupt law.”
Our resistance against oppression, injustice, and tyranny will continue until victory is achieved!
Marseille, February 16-17, 2024