Balloons Flied to Freedom at 49th Week of Justice Watch

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Balloons were flied to the sky in front of İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan at 49th week of “Justice Watch”, which was initiated by rights organizations to support Cumhuriyet newspaper’s arrested lawyers, to support Cumhuriyet newspaper's arrested lawyers who will stand trial today (March 9).

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Germany Christian Mihr was among the participants of the watch where the slogan “Freedom right now” was chanted.

Speaking first in the watch, İstanbul Bar Association President Mehmet Durakoğlu said, “We’ve seen coups, martial-law courts, State Security Courts, Special Courts and State of Emergency courts. This case is a déjà vu for lawyers”.

Akgül: 16 journalist women were arrested

Journalist Elif Akgül made a statement on behalf of Journalists Outside initiative. Delivering messages on International Women’s Day as well, Akgül stressed that there are 16 journalist women behind bars in Turkey:

“We’ve passed the stage where thought, writings and words are labelled as terror crime, we are now living the days in which lifetime imprisonments are passed on like nothing. Occupancy rate in Turkey’s prisons hasn’t hit the peak in Republic [of Turkey] history and but also exceeded the Ottoman era and passed 100 percent.

“Violence against women, sexual abuse, child abuse show increase in this environment where injustice is all over. Unfortunately, legislation, jurisdiction and executive power merely watch this”.

13 women lawyers are behind bars

Speaking at the watch, lawyer Kemal Aytaç said that there are 12 women lawyers in prison.

Stating that no indictment has been prepared yet for the imprisoned lawyers for over six months, Aytaç shared the addresses of the prisons where women lawyers are kept.

Mihr: We are in Turkey until all journalists are released

Saying that he came to Turkey to observe condition of journalists in Turkey, RSF representative Mihr said:

“We will continue to be in Turkey until all journalists are released from prison. We will sustain our efforts until democracy longed for in Turkey is achieved. Let us maintain our solidarity until the last journalist is released”. (TP/TK)