Joint letter on revocation licenses of Aliaksandr Pylchanka and Yulia Levanchuk
In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales have expressed concerns about the revocation of the licenses to practise law of the Belarus lawyers Aliaksandr Pylchanka and Yulia Levanchuk on 15 October 2020. Mr. Pylchanka represents detained opposition leaders Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava. The decision to revoke his […]
Criminal investigations into bar associations in Turkey
Over the last year, the Turkish government has increased the pressure on independent bar associations in Turkey by passing a disputed law and launching multiple criminal investigations into bar associations. Turkey’s Law on Lawyers In June 2020, the Turkish government proposed a new draft law amending Turkey’s Law on Lawyers. Plans for the new draft […]
Pygambergeldy Allaberdyev sentenced
It has been reported that Pygambergeldy Allaberdyev, a lawyer in Turkmenistan, has been sentenced to six years in prison, allegedly as retaliation for ties with Turkmen activists outside the country. Mr Allaberdyev is a lawyer with a government oil and gas production office in Balkanabad. He was convicted of hooliganism and intentional infliction of moderate […]
Third quarterly update: #FreeTheLawyers Campaign
Ever since the launch of the campaign, Lawyers for Lawyers has undertaken various actions in the frame of the #FreeTheLawyers Campaign. Lawyers for Lawyers would like to keep you informed about these actions by giving you a quarterly update about all the activities that we have undertaken from mid-July to October 2020. The recap can […]
Joint letter on the independence of the legal profession in Eswatini
In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) express concern about proposed legislation to regulate the operations and functions of the legal profession in Eswatini that would severely undermine the right to an independent lawyer. According to our information, a Bill that the Government of Eswatini is reportedly seeking […]
Nasrin Sotoudeh transferred to Gharchak Prison
Nasrin Sotoudeh has been moved to the notorious Gharchack Prison in the city of Varamin on 20 October 2020, despite serious medical issues that require her hospitalization. This has been reported by Center for Human Rights in Iran. Ms. Sotoudeh has serious cardiac and pulmonary complication after being on a hunger strike. On 26 September […]
Letter on the judicial harassment of Levent Pişkin
In a letter to the Turkish authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the legal proceedings initiated against prominent human rights lawyer and defender Levent Pişkin. The final hearing in his court case will be held on 18 November 2020. According to our information, Mr. Piskin was taken into custody on 14 November 2016 in […]
Elchin Mammad sentenced
It has been reported that Azerbaijani human rights lawyer Elchin Mammad was sentenced to four years in prison by the Sumgait City Court on 14 October 2020. Mr. Mammad is a human rights lawyer, President of the Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth (SULESY), an NGO providing free legal assistance to low income […]
Possible revocation of license Aliaksandr Pylchanka
Lawyers for Lawyers was informed that the Qualification Commission for legal practice in the Republic of Belarus has scheduled a meeting for 15 October 2020 to consider revoking the license to practice law of lawyer Aliaksandr Pylchanka. Mr. Pylchanka, the lawyer of detained opposition leaders Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava, received a notification from the […]
Letter on the ongoing detention of Li Yuhan
Today, exactly three years after the arrest of former Chinese human rights lawyer Li Yuhan, Lawyers for Lawyers has sent a letter to the Chinese authorities calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Li Yuhan. In the letter the need for urgent acces to adequate medical care for Li Yuhan is underlined. Li Yuhan […]
One year since Ali Jasseb Hattab Al-Heliji has forcibly disappeared
The whereabouts of human rights lawyer Ali Jaseb Hatteb Al-Heliji from Iraq remain unknown exactly one year after he was abducted by armed men on 8 October 2019. Mr. Al-Heliji is a human rights lawyer and a member of the Advocates for the Protesters Rights Commission. He advocates for the rights of political prisoners and […]
Joint letter on the trial of citizens of Dong Tam
Lawyers for Lawyers has cosigned a joint letter alongside 46 signatories to express grave concerns over the trial of the citizens of Dong Tam, held in Vietnam from 7 to 14 September 2020. Throughout the trial, the rights of the defense, including the rights and privileges of the defense lawyers, were not respected. According to […]
One year since Ali Jasseb Hattab Al-Heliji has forcibly disappeared
The whereabouts of human rights lawyer Ali Jaseb Hatteb Al-Heliji from Iraq remain unknown exactly one year after he was abducted by armed men on 8 October 2019. Mr. Al-Heliji is a human rights lawyer and a member of the Advocates for the Protesters Rights Commission. He advocates for the rights of political prisoners and […]
Letter on the ongoing detention of Elchin Mammad
In a letter to the Azerbaijani authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the ongoing detention and health of human rights lawyer Elchin Mammad from Azerbaijan. Elchin Mammad is a human rights lawyer, President of the Social Union of Legal Education of Sumgait Youth (SULESY), an NGO providing free legal assistance to low income families […]
Disbarment Fatma Karume
On 23 September 2020, the Advocates’ Disciplinary Committee of Tanzania permanently disbarred Fatma Karume from practicing law. Ms Karume is a senior lawyer and the former president of the Tanganyika Law Society, which is the bar association of mainland Tanzania. She was accused of misconduct following her written submissions in a constitutional challenge to the […]
Eight years since the arrest of Khalil Ma’touq
Today eight years ago, on 2 October 2012, prominent Syrian human rights lawyer Khalil Ma’touq and his colleague Mohamed Zaza were arrested. Since then, nothing has been heard of them and their whereabouts remain unknown. Ma’touq, director of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research, is a human rights lawyer who has been defending […]