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European Lawyers report Massive Human Rights Violations in Diyarbakir (Turkey)

London/Düsseldorf, 25th January 2016

Press Release:
European Lawyers report Massive Human Rights Violations in Diyarbakir (Turkey) due to curfew –immediate international action needed

A delegation* of 10 lawyers from Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Italy visited Diyarbakir, Turkey, from 21st to 24th of January 2016 to monitor the impact of the curfew on the population. The mission was coordinated by two European lawyers’ organisations, the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDH) and the European Democratic Lawyers (EDL), and also the “Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane”.

The lawyers had meetings with the bar association, human rights organizations, the chamber of doctors, families of victims, a women’s organization, the co-mayor of the city and the People’s Democratic Party. In the course of these meetings, they received reports about a dramatic situation.

In the Sur district, the ancient centre of Diyarbakir, as well as other cities and districts of the region, curfews are being imposed by the government. In Sur, the 125.000 inhabitants of 6 neighbourhoods are completely isolated by the curfew. Around 22,000 people had left the curfew areas, some of them deliberately, most of them forced by the military. People living in the area subject to curfew are not allowed to leave; exit is allowed only in rare moments when the curfew is lifted and even then subject to the arbitrary decisions of the army officers. People who leave those areas are not sure that they will be allowed to go back to their homes. On the contrary, no one who is not a resident of Sur can enter. This results also in a serious lack of transparency. No one is able to assess the real situation because no international delegation or independent person is allowed to see with his own eyes. Therefore no- one has a chance to collect evidence, participate in an autopsy etc. This makes it easy for the state to claim that; “everyone who had died was a terrorist” or was “killed by terrorists”.

The population is not properly informed about a temporary lifting of the curfew and about the time when it was re-imposed. For this reason in some cases people, among them several school-children, have been shot by military snipers because they were not aware of the restart of the curfew. The curfew in Sur has lasted already for more than 50 days, day and night. The consequence is that the basic needs of citizens of Sur are violated. They have no access to medical care; access to drinking water, food and electricity is limited. In the whole region, an estimated 1.5 million people are directly or indirectly affected by the curfews and the military atrocities.

The inhabitants of Sur are taken hostage by the military, and are subjected to ill-treatment and to extreme violence. The delegation could hear gun-fire day and night, and observed helicopters and fighter jets flying over the city and armoured vehicles patrolling the streets. The rights to education, health and health care and free movement are being violated. Houses are destroyed by the military and water pipes and electricity lines are interrupted and/or destroyed.

The Turkish government boasts to have killed hundreds of fighters. They don’t mention the hundreds of civilians, among them many children, who have been killed and wounded. Wounded people remain on the street because they are prevented from receiving medical treatment and die because of their injuries. Corpses of men, women and children remain on the streets often for many days, because their families are prevented from burying them.

Every morning, fully equipped doctors demand access to the curfew zone but are pushed back by police.

This curfew violates Turkish as well as international law. According to the Turkish constitution and the State of Emergency Law, the prerequisite for the declaration of a curfew is the declaration of a state of emergency. The Council of Ministers did not declare a State of Emergency. International human rights treaties which have been ratified by Turkey are not respected.

The lawyers call upon

  • The Turkish Government to put an immediate end to the unlawful curfew and to respect national and international law and treaties;
  • The European Institutions to do all they can to end this human tragedy. The legally questionable cooperation between the EU and Turkey against the free movement of refugees cannot justify the silence of the European Union towards the crimes, which are being committed right now in Diyarbakir, Cizre and other towns in the region;
  • The United Nations to convene urgently a meeting of the UN Security Council on the deteriorating situation of the civilians under curfew.

 

For more information, contact

Silke Studzinsky
E-mail: sist@rajus.de

Tel.: +49 (0) 177 5034907

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On the Death of Tahir Elçi

La mort de Tahir Elçi, un éminent avocat et Bâtonnier du conseil de l’ordre de Diyarbaquir en des circonstances dramatiques au District Sud d’Amed (Diyarbakir), abattu à coups de feu en pleine rue pendant une conférence de presse, constitue un assassinat politique et crime contre les Droits Humains.

Les Avocats Européens Démocrates (AED – EDL) entendent exprimer leur solidarité avec sa famille, ses amis, les militants des Droits Humains, les avocats et avocates et tous les citoyens turcs et kurdes qui ont soutenu sa lutte en Turquie contre la tyrannie et la terreur de l’État dirigée à anéantir les dissidents et des secteurs très amples de la société.

La longue trajectoire du bâtonnier de Diyarbaquir pour la défense de la paix et les Droits Humains fait de ce crime un crime contre tous les défenseurs des Droits Humains et contre les avocats et avocates engagés dans la lutte pour la défense des droits humains universels (sans distinction d’appartenance à un groupe social ou national quelconque).

Ces derniers temps nous avons vécu un dernier incident lorsque, faisant usage de son Droit à la Liberté d’expression reconnu par la Constitution Turque, Tahir Elçi avait manifesté publiquement (CNN TÜRK) son opinion politique à l’égard du conflit de l’Etat Turc avec le peuple Kurde et avait été placé en détention près le 2n Juge Pénal de la Paix de Bakirköy, accusé injustement de disséminer la propagande au nom d’une organisation terroriste (article 7/2 de la Loi Antiterroriste). L’ordre de détention d’Elçi a représenté une autre attaque acharnée en Turquie contre les Droit Humains et une nouvelle démonstration d’intimidation et de force des Tribunaux (non indépendants ) soumis et contrôlés par le pouvoir exécutif Turc. Malgré cela il a continué à lutter pour les Droits humains. Finalement il a été tué.

Schermata 2015-12-03 alle 11.27.24

La mort de notre confrère Tahir ne peut pas rester impunie.

C‘est pour cela que :

Les avocats européens démocrates demandent à tous les avocats et avocates qu’ils rendent un hommage spécial à la figure de Tahir Elçi le 23 janvier 2016, prochain jour de l’avocat menacé.

Les avocats européens démocrates exigent du Conseil des Ministres de l’Union Européenne et du Parlement Européen qu’ils s’adressent à l’État Turc à fin qu’il mette en place un système de contrôle du respect des Droits Humains pour éviter l’impunité des coupables des crimes contre l’Humanité qui se produisent continuellement en Turquie et au Kurdistan. A défaut, un soupçon de connivence avec tous ces crimes tombera à nouveau sur l’Etat Turc et son Gouvernement.

Le principe démocratique, qui est dans l’esprit de création de l’UE, lui impose la condamnation de tous les crimes commis par l’Etat Turc et les forces parapolicières et paramilitaires en Turquie et aussi l’oblige à dénoncer la guerre totale de cet État contre la liberté et les Droits Humains, en utilisant la répression contre le peuple, contre les mass media, la terreur et le meurtre brutal.

Les Avocats Européen démocrates condamnent ce terrible crime et exigent du Gouvernement Turc l’ouverture d’une enquête indépendante pour trouver les responsables directs et indirects.

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LE DROIT À LA DEFENSE MENACÉ EN ESPAGNE

Un avocat arrêté du fait d’avoir exercé la défense

 

Les Avocats Européens Démocrates (AED/EDL) expriment leur profonde préoccupation face à l’arrestation d’un avocat au nom de la soi-disant « Opération Pandora 2 ».

 

Le 28 octobre 2015, neuf personnes ont été arrêtées pour infractions terroristes présumées et ont été renvoyées devant le Tribunal Central d’instruction numéro 3 de l’Audiencia Nacional. Ce Tribunal a placé en détention préventive Maître Enrique Costoya, avocat spécialisé en droit du travail au sein d’un Syndicat et qui a défendu certains des détenus dans des récentes opérations similaires, qui ont en commun de porter des accusations contre des personnes d’idéologie anarchiste. Dans le cadre de son activité professionnelle au cours de ces derniers mois, Me Costoya a plaidé devant l’Audiencia Nacional et a régulièrement rendu visite, en prison, à ses clients détenus visés par ces accusations.

 

L’AED ne peut que remettre en question le fait que, s’agissant d’un professionnel vivant à Barcelone, sa détention ait été nécessaire. L’avocat aurait pu être assigné à résidence. Des mesures moins néfastes pour ses droits fondamentaux et tout aussi efficaces auraient pu être adoptées pour garantir de sa présence devant la justice. En optant pour la privation de liberté, cette dernière a choisi l’atteinte la plus grave empêchant l’avocat de poursuivre son travail de défense.

 

Malheureusement, ce n’est pas la première fois que des avocats/es sont placés en garde à vue, poursuivis et emprisonnés en Espagne, dans la plupart des cas en relation directe avec leur exercice professionnel d’avocats/es de membres présumés de l’ETA ou d’organisations prétendument associées.

 

L’AED a dénoncé à plusieurs reprises cette pratique, comme constituant une violation du droit à un procès équitable proclamé par l’article 6, paragraphe 2 c de la Convention Européenne des Droits de l’Homme (CEDH) et des Principes de base relatifs au rôle du Barreau, adoptés par le 8e Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et le traitement des délinquants tenu à La Havane (Cuba) du 27 août au 7 septembre 1990. L’article 1 de ces Principes de base dispose que : «Toute personne peut faire appel à un avocat de son choix pour protéger et faire valoir ses droits et pour la défendre à tous les stades d’une procédure pénale», et l’article 18: «Les avocats ne doivent pas être assimilés à leurs clients ou à la cause de leurs clients du fait de l’exercice de leurs fonctions».

 

En arrêtant un avocat, non seulement l’Etat espagnol l’empêche d’exercer ses fonctions professionnelles, mais nie également aux accusés leur droit d’être représentés par l’avocat de leur choix.

L’AED appelle à la plus grande vigilance face à la menace que représente, pour l’exercice de la profession d’avocat, la présomption de son assimilation avec la cause qu’il défend.

 

L’AED exhorte l’Etat espagnol et toutes les autorités européennes à empêcher toute violation des droits de la défense tels que mentionnés ci-dessus, garantis par les traités internationaux signés par l’Etat espagnol, et plus précisément, en ce qui concerne les faits exposés, réclame :

 

  1. La pleine application de tous les traités internationaux et de tout le droit européen ratifié par l’Espagne en ce qui concerne le droit à un procès équitable, en particulier l’art. 14 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques et l’art. 6 de la CEDH.

 

  1. L’application effective des Principes de base relatifs au rôle du Barreau, dont les articles 7, 8, 16 et 18:
  • Les avocats/es ne seront pas identifiés avec leurs clients ou avec leurs causes du fait de l’exercice de leurs fonctions professionnelles.
  • L’État espagnol doit veiller à ce que les avocats/es puissent: a) exercer toutes leurs fonctions professionnelles sans intimidation, obstacles, harcèlement ni ingérences indues; b) puissent communiquer librement avec leurs clients, à la fois dans leur propre pays et à l’étranger; c) ne subissent pas ou ne soient pas exposés à des poursuites ou sanctions administratives, économiques ou autres pour toute démarche professionnelle réalisée conformément aux obligations, règles et normes éthiques reconnues.

 

  1. Qu’il soit mis fin au recours disproportionné à la garde à vue et à la détention préventive.

Compte tenu de la répétition alarmante de faits similaires, l’AED soutient la création d’une commission indépendante aux fins d’enquêter sur la violation des droits des avocats/es en Espagne, et en particulier de ceux qui ont été ou sont encore en détention préventive.

 

Barcelone, le 2 novembre 2015

 

 

Fotografia: Victor Serri (directa.cat)

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In solidarity with the striking French lawyers

Les Avocats Européens Démocrates (AED), dénoncent les faits et montrent leur solidarité avec leurs confrères et leurs consœurs qui protestaient au Palais de Justice de Lille contre la réforme de l’Aide Juridictionnelle en France, et qui ont été évacués de force par la police et chargés par les CRS .

Des faits similaires se produisent en ce moment, ce 22 octobre à Toulouse.

Les faits sont très graves et inouïs : 
Les policiers se sont interposés, ils ont sorti du tribunal les manifestants. Les confrères ont été poussés dehors et quelques uns sont tombés à terre. Florian Borg, président du SAF -syndicat membre fondateur de l’AED-, a été attaqué et sa robe d’avocat déchirée. Le bâtonnier de Lille, Vincent Potié a été ceinturé, voyant aussi sa robe déchirée. D’autres confrères ont été traînés à terre. Il est affolant et désastreux de devoir remarquer que même des avocats qui voulaient plaider pour défendre des personnes déférées par le procureur ont été sorties de force du Palais de justice par la police. La profession d’avocat est en état de colère et de désespérance face à la situation actuelle et face à ces derniers évènements.

Le Conseil National des Barreaux propose au vote de son assemblée générale du 23 octobre 2015, une grève générale et illimitée des avocats ; l’AED soutiendra cette mesure et toute action dirigée contre une réforme antisociale et contraire aux Droits de l’Homme. Une réforme qui vise, comme nous sommes habitués ces derniers temps, les couches les plus faibles de la société et leur de Droit de Défense et prétend annihiler le service rendu par les avocats dans le cadre de l’Aide Juridictionnelle.

L’AED proclame son profond désaccord avec la réforme de l’Aide Juridictionnelle en France et assure de sa solidarité les avocats qui travaillent dans le cadre de l’Aide Juridictionnelle, et donne son plein soutien à une vraie réforme permettant aux plus pauvres un accès effectif aux droits, et à une défense de qualité.

Bruxelles, Barcelone, Madrid, Paris, Bilbao, Roma, Milan, Amsterdam, Berlin
le 22 octobre 2015.

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We are close to the victims of Ankara

The EDL, the association of European Democratic Lawyers, is close to the Turkish and Kurdish people hardly hit by the attack carried out in Ankara on October 10th during a peaceful demonstration organized by non-governmental organizations, trade unions and the HDP, the Party, which won in June together with the coalition of Kurdish party and other leftist parties 84 seats in the Turkish Parliament.

We express our solidarity with the victims and condemn this monstrous attack, which, through two explosions close together, hit the big peace rally and killed about 100 people.

The attack can be added to the attacks in Diyarbakir last June and in Suruc in July, definitely executed by the same hand and aiming at terrorizing those who are leading the battle for peace and self-determination of the Kurdish people. This brings us back to the memory of the dark years that we have lived in our country with the strategy of tension and the manoeuvres inspired by authoritarian environments related to political alliances with anti-communism the most reactionary sectors of the security forces.

This massacre is part of an effort to prevent the realization of freedom and democracy in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries, in the line of fire of colonialist and imperialist aims and the cruel and murderous ravings of so-called Islamic state.

We want to show our closeness and solidarity through militant solidarity, which in our case has been expressed itself in defense in court of Kurdish militants unjustly accused of terrorism, as well as in the presence of lawyers and jurists in the regions of Kurdistan most affected by violence of the Islamic state, Daesh, and the presence of international observers, including lawyers who are part of our association during the upcoming elections in Turkey .

We are particularly close to our brothers and colleagues of ÇAĞDAŞ HUKUKÇULAR DERNEĞI (ÇHD- PROGRESSIVE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION – TURKEY), who have been hardly by the repression of the Turkish regime and we are confident that the murderous violence of the bombs will not stop the struggle for democracy .

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on Hot spots

To the presidents of democratic political groups in the European Parliament:

The Bureau of the AED, meeting in Naples on the 9th and 10th October 2015, has taken note of the establishment, particularly in Italy and Greece, by the Council of the European Union of so called “hot spots”, destined to sort out in a basic manner between refugees and migrants, and then to transfer the first to different countries of the European Union, while abandoning the rest to their fate. The AED has furthermore come to know that the European authorities have decided to move from simply monitoring the borders to stopping ships if necessary by force with the risk to the lives of migrants qualified as “collateral damage ”

Faced with this direct attack on the right asylum but also simply to the right to life, the Bureau of the AED denounces this inadequate response to the plight of migrants at the borders of Europe. The AED recalls its total opposition to the detention of migrants. The Bureau cannot accept that in the name of solving a serious humanitarian crisis, human beings are treated as merchandise and joggled around European countries, in the name of refugee quota plan.

Finally, the Bureau recalls that the AED is an organization of lawyers and although we cannot endorse the political undermining of the international protection of migrants, we will present everywhere to defend those in danger.

 

Naples, 10th of October 2015

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Concern due to measures imposed on lawyers

PRESS RELEASE

Concern due to the disproportionate precautionary measures imposed against Arantza Zulueta, Jon Enparantza and José Campo

The Association of Democratic Lawyers previously expressed their concern about the arrest and the hardness of the precautionary measures taken against the Basque Lawyers Arantza Zulueta, Jon Enparantza and José Campo and also denounced the persecution of the Basque Lawyers and their professional practice in the recent police operation that ended with 12 lawyers arrested.

We want to show our disagreement with the hardness of the precautionary measures taken due to which they remain in prison under high isolation conditions for over a year, without having determined the date of judgment.

Arantza Zulueta was already on probation for a similar charge, so we believe that her second arrest is questionable.

We request the all three to be released as soon as possible and their liability to be determined, in any case, in court. From AED-EDL we further emphasize that:

  • The prison precautionary, unconditional and provisional measure is highly burdensome that applies to very specific cases. We understand that, in this case, does not fit at all. Thus, we consider it disproportionate and, in this case, another precautionary measures could be taken, if so appropriate.
  • There is no reason to believe that there is a risk of scape. In the case of Arantza Zulueta, she is on probation for another procedure.
  • The State must guarantee the right of lawyers to carry out their professional functions without the intimidation or persecution, and without suffering any interference in their work.

    Therefore, we request to the JCI number 6 with the proceeding number 11/2013, their release as soon as possible so that the violation of their rights cease immediately.

    Brussels, February 7th, 2015

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On Legalteams

The EDL, in the course of a bureau meeting in Istanbul on the 18th of October 2014, has decided:

Whereas:

  • In the course of a trial taking place in Turin, Italy, against dozens of citizens, who have actively demonstrated for years in defence of the territory of the Valley of Susa threatened by the construction of a devastating and useless high speed train, the Public Prosecutor has requested high penalties. During the hearing of the 14th October 2014, the lawyer defending the State affirmed:

“The so-called Legal Team was present on the scene on the 27th of June and the 3rd of July. This trial, which has lived of filmed images, has given us the possibility of seeing these lawyers in places where crimes were being enacted…the moment has come, where one has to choose between the Legal Team jacket or the Lawyers’ robe because wearing both is difficult and the credibility of the lawyer is at stake”

  • Since the G8 in Genoa in 2001, in all mass demonstrations, lawyers in all Europe have worn the legal team jacket and taken to the streets in support of the free demonstration of opinion and following the principle that fundamental rights are not only defended in the courts of justice but everywhere where they are under threat.
  • The grave statements of the lawyer representing the state, given the context and place where they were pronounced, constitute an unacceptable form of intimidation of defence lawyers in this particular trial, as well as of lawyers working for citizens under trial for opposing the destruction of the environment and living conditions of people.

Now, therefore:

The EDL expresses its greatest outrage at the attacks against the freedom of organization of lawyers and the attempt to intimidate the defence lawyers, undermining the guarantees of the defence within and outside the trial.

The EDL expresses its solidarity to the Legal Team Italy and to the courageous lawyers of Turin who work under particularly difficult circumstances.

The EDL reiterates that the activity of Legal Team is part of the heritage of democratic struggle and a legitimate exercise of lawyers’ professional activity.

The EDL appeals to all institutions of self-government of lawyers and magistrates, as well as to all citizens to intervene to avoid attacks on democratic lawyers and the rights of the defence.

 

Bureau of the EDL

Istanbul, 18/10/2014

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Arrest of three Basque Lawyers

PRESS RELEASE

London, Düsseldorf, Farciennes 21 July 2014

The European Lawyers Associations AED and ELDH have received information concerning several situations of grave concern in relation with the pressure and persecution Basque lawyers are suffering.

First, we express our concern over the arrest and imprisonment of the three Basque lawyers Jon Enparantza, Arantza Zulueta and Jose Campo, arrested six months ago who still remain under preventive detention since then. The restrictive security measures to which they are subjected involve a high degree of isolation.

The cases of Arantza Zulueta and Jon Enparantza cause particular concern. In the case of Zulueta, she is suffering a situation of extreme isolation in the prison Puerto III, 980 km far away from the Basque Country, and living a lifestyle that is not compatible with her rights1. These conditions threaten her physical and mental integrity. She has not been convicted and this is incompatible with the presumption of innocence. Jon Enparantza is exactly under the same situation in the prison of Segovia, 410 km away from Donostia, where he lives with his family.

Second, we express our concern concerning the information recently leaked to the media, which could be considered to be part of an operation against a specific group of lawyers. Without having any news other than that leaked to the media, we are led to believe that the conditions described are not compatible with the exercise the right to a defence.

1

The routine she is facing at present is as follows: since entering in prison she has been in the isolation module, alone, with no contact with any other prisoner. Now she is in a special isolation module withe no human contact, she has 4 hours in the yard which measures 15 x 5 steps in the morning or in the afternoon, at the discretion of the prison officers.

She is subjected to daily personal body searches on going to the yard, and often while in the yard, her cell is turned upside down, and she can receive phone calls only when prison officers arbitrarily decide and they remain in her presence. This situation is quite irregular and contrary to the regime officially applied to prisoners.

In the cell she is only allowed to have two books and some clothes. All her belongings are retained by the authorities and even the letters received must be returned, once read, to be stored with the rest of her retained belongings. All her letters are intercepted, both incoming letters that take about two weeks to arrive, and her own letters, in addition to having the number of letters that can be sent reduced to two people, per week.

2

We therefore declare:

First. The fact that our lawyers colleagues have been arbitrarily detained must be admitted, and their right to physical and mental integrity should be safeguarded.

Second. These lawyers should be released from custody in accordance with international standards. Their release is urgent, because the lawyers are suffering a particularly severe isolation regime, away from their homes and away from their families, and the presumption of innocence to which they are entitled is being violated.

Therefore, we demand their immediate release awaiting prosecution and trial. The full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom should be restored to them, in particular, those corresponding their capacity as lawyers and human rights defenders.

Third. Their prosecution before a special court (Audiencia Nacional) should be terminated, and the use of special courts for the suppression of terrorism is not justified.

Fourth. The Spanish State should instruct the Guardia Civil that police operations based only on exceptional reports such as those which have led to the detention of these three lawyers must end.

Fifth The right of full and adequate defence must be guaranteed, to be exercised freely and without any pressure or constant threats.

ELDH – European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights, Platanenstraße 13, 40233 Düsseldorf, Germany, www.eldh.eu

EDL – European Democratic Lawyers, Rue Albert Ier, 236, 6240 Farciennes, Belgium, http://www.aeud.org/

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TO THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES

PETITION
WITH URGENT REQUESTS TO THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES
PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, MR. MARIANO RAJOY BREY AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT

3rd day of the Endangered Lawyers – 24th January 2013
European lawyers demand: Basque lawyers in Spain must enjoy the free exercise of their professional duties

During the last two decades more than 20 Basque lawyers in Spain have been kept in pre-trial detention, several of them up to almost 2 years. All the arrested lawyers were charged with terrorist crimes connected with ETA, or with insulting the Spanish state. All of them were either defence lawyers or human rights lawyers representing alleged members or supporters of ETA organisations. Later it turned out that most of these arrests were unfounded and unlawful. In almost all of the above mentioned cases the suspected lawyers were acquitted afterwards, or the cases were dismissed.

By arresting these lawyers the Spanish state not only prevented them from exercising their professional duties but also denied their clients the right to be represented by a lawyer of their choice. Both acts were a violation of human rights, under the European Convention of Human Rights Art. 6, Para 2, c and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, 1. ” All persons are entitled to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice”, 18. “Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.”

The organisations signing below have been informed that Basque lawyers, in politically sensitive cases were identified with their clients. In several cases where they had clients who were accused of ETA activities, the lawyers themselves were persecuted, arrested, detained and put under high pressure. Arrested lawyers were even detained incommunicado and could not even be advised and assisted by a lawyer of their own choice, on the days immediately after their arrest.

Spain is one of the countries where lawyers appear to be threatened because of the fact that some police officers, some media and even juridical authorities suggest that lawyers have to be persecuted in the same way as their clients. This is not only against the law and a threat to the Rule of Law, but it also creates the high risk that even lawyers falsely suspected of supporting ETA as well as real supporters are prevented from having a fair trial.

Therefore the organisations signing below ask that you pay close attention to these abovementioned violations of the rights of the defence – as guaranteed in many international and European Treaties (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) ratified by Spain -, which are also a grave violation of the UN Principles on the Role of Lawyers, as adopted in Havana. AED and ELDH want to express their concern about the fact that these persecutions of lawyers which are continuing for many years have a structural character. We demand

1. The full implementation of all International and all European law ratified by Spain concerning the right to a fair trial, i.e. Art. 14 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 6 European Convention on Human Rights.

2. The full implementation of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers i.e. Art. 7, 8, 16, 18

  •  That all persons arrested or detained, with or without criminal charge, shall have prompt access to a lawyer, and in any case not later than forty-eight hours from the time of arrest or detention.
  •  All arrested, detained or imprisoned persons shall be provided with adequate opportunities, time and facilities to be visited by and to communicate and consult with a lawyer, without delay, interception or censorship and in full confidentiality. Such consultations may be within sight, but not within the hearing, of law enforcement officials.
  •  That lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.
  •  The Spanish State shall ensure that lawyers ( a ) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; ( b ) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and ( c ) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
  1. Full implementation of the conclusions in the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the UN Special rapporteurs.
  2. To abolish the use of incommunicado detention, cf. Art. 3 ECHR
  3. To stop the disproportionate use of pre-trial detention and pre-trial detention without a full

    consideration of whether detention is proportionate.

  4. To end the practice of secret legal proceedings, which severely restrict access to the details of

    the case, including the charges and evidence in the case until up to 10 days before the closing of the investigative phase. For example :refusal to explain the charges against the arrested and refusal to hand over the files)

  5. An independent commission to investigate the violation of the rights of lawyers in Spain, in particular of those who have been or are still are ,or will be kept in detention.
  6. The release of all lawyers whose detention is found unjustified by this commission and a compensation for human rights violations which they have suffered.

Prof. Bill Bowring, barrister, President of ELDH, London (UK)

www.eldh.eu

Mr. Frédéric Ureel, advocate, President of AED-EDL, Farciennes (Belgium)

www.aed-edl.net

FOR MORE INFORMATION :

  • Mr. Hans Gaasbeek, advocate, Vice President of AED, Haarlem, Netherlands, Phone 0031 6 52055043, hgaasbeek@gaasbeekengaasbeek.nl
  •  Mr. Thomas Schmidt, advocate, ELDH Secretary General, Düsseldorf, Germany, Phone 0049 211 444001, thomas.schmidt@eldh.eu

     

     

     

     

     

    Note–The Day of the Endangered Lawyer is a project, launched in 2010 by the commission defence de la defence of the AED/EDL (European democratic lawyer confederation). The goal is to direct once in a year international attention towards the worldwide harassments, persecutions killings and threatening of lawyers, while performing their professional duties. Since 2012 this is a joint project of AED and ELDH. Other Lawyers and Human Rights organisations are welcome to join.