Volunteer visits the DRC
During a recent visit to Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo, one of our volunteers, Paul Deza de Massiac, spoke to a number of stakeholders in the field including H.E. Minister in charge of handicapped persons Irène Esambo, Défense de la Défense representatives and Université Catholique du Congo professors. During the meetings, the current situation of […]
Concerns about Wang Quanzhang’s personal freedom after his release
Lawyers for Lawyers, together with 36 other signatories including amongst others human rights organisations, bar associations and individual signatories, urged the Chinese authorities to ensure Wang Quanzhang’s personal freedom after his release and his right to reunite with his family in Beijing in a joint statement. On 5 April 2020 Chinese human rights lawyer Wang […]
Letter on the continuing attacks against lawyers and the killing of Atty. Dalangin in the Philippines
In a letter to the authorities of the Philippines, Lawyers for Lawyers expressed its concern about the increasing attacks against and the continued killings of lawyers. One of the recently killed lawyers is Bayani Dalangin. Wilson Chua, the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Nueva Ecija Chapter Bayani Dalangin said in a […]
Joint letter on actions taken against Ding Jiaxi and Qin Yongpei
In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group expressed concerns about the actions that were taken against Chinese human rights lawyers Ding Jiaxi and Qin Yongpei. In December 2019, both Chinese lawyers Ding Jiaxi and Qin Yongpei were arrested by the Chinese police for “inciting subversion of state […]
Letter on the ongoing detention and judicial harassment of Qin Yongpei
In a letter to the Chinese authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the ongoing detention and judicial harassment of Chinese human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei. Foto taken from Front Line Defenders In his legal career, Qin Yongpei has defended various other human rights lawyers facing reprisals from the authorities, provided legal assistance to vulnerable […]
Monitoring of lawyer Daniel Prado
In a letter to the Colombian authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the safety and monitoring of human rights lawyer Daniel Prado. Daniel Prado is a lawyer with the Colombian NGO Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace (CIJP). For more than twenty years the CIJP has defended human rights and accompanied victims of human rights […]
Lawyers from Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) on hunger strike
It has been reported that Ebru Timtik, Barkın Timtik, Oya Aslan and Aytaç Ünsal from the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) in Turkey have been on hunger strike for more than two months to support their demand for a fair trial. Photo taken from the ÇHD The lawyers started their hunger strike on 3 February 2020, in protest […]
First quarterly update: #FreeTheLawyers Campaign
In order to provide protective publicity and support to lawyers who are serving long prison sentences, Lawyers for Lawyers has launched the worldwide two-year long #FreeTheLawyers Campaign on 10 December 2019. The campaign consists of a series of activities, including interventions, social media campaigns, individual petitions and submissions as well as advocacy on targeted cases […]
Call for release imprisoned Egypt human rights lawyers amid COVID-19 crisis
In view of serious threats to life and health, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon Egypt to immediately release all human rights lawyers unjustly jailed in Egypt amid the global COVID-19 crisis. Unjustly jailed lawyers include Mohsen Bahnasi, Zyad el-Elaimy, Mahienour El-Massry, Amr Imam, Mohamed El-Baqer, Ibrahim Metwally, Hoda Abdel-Moneim, Haytham Mohadeen, Mohamad Ramadan and Gamel […]
Mohsen Bahnasi arrested
On 27 March 2020, Egyptian human rights lawyer Mohsen Bahnasi was violently arrested by national security agents. The following day, the Supreme Public Prosecution in Cairo ordered his detention for 15 days pending further investigation. This was reported by Frontline Defenders. Mohsen Bahnasi is charged with ‘joining a terrorist organisation’ and ‘spreading false news’ following […]
Statement on the situation of lawyers in Turkey
On this day, 5 april 2020 – celebrated as Lawyers’ Day in Turkey – Lawyers for Lawyers takes the opportunity to strongly condemn the on-going crackdown against lawyers in Turkey. Lawyers for Lawyers has asked attention on many occasions for the worrying situation of lawyers in Turkey. Lawyers in Turkey have been subjected to judicial […]
Human rights lawyer Ayşegül Çağatay released from prison
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the news that human rights lawyer Ayşegül Çağatay from Turkey has been released from prison on bail on 31 March 2020! On 20 June 2019, police raided the People’s Law Office (Halkın Hukuk Bürosu). Ayşegül Çağatay and her colleagues Görkem Agdede, Nadide Özdemir, and Ebru Timtik were taken into custody. On […]
Wang Quanzhang on the verge of being released – but may not regain his freedom
The prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang is expected to be released from prison on 5 April 2020. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Wang is allowed to travel to Beijing to reunite with his family. In a joint statement, Lawyers for Lawyers together with many other organizations, urges the Chinese authorities to […]
Letter on continuing judicial harassment of lawyers in Turkey
In a letter to the Turkish authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the continuing judicial harassment of multiple prominent human rights lawyers from Turkey. On 12 March 2020 the houses and offices of Messrs. Özkan Avcı and Zeynep Işık from the Diyarbakır Bar Association, Messrs. Hidayet Enmek, Sevda Özbingöl Çelik, Emrah Baran, Hüseyin Izol, […]
Egyptian human rights lawyer Zyad el-Elaimy sentenced to prison for BBC interview
On 10 March 2020 the Mokattam Misdemeanour Court in Egypt sentenced Zyad el-Elaimy, a human rights lawyer, former MP and one of the leaders of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, to one year in prison for “spreading false news with an intent to spread panic among the people and disturbing public peace” during a TV […]
Release imprisoned human rights lawyers amidst COVID-19 crisis
In view of serious threats to life and health, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately release all human rights lawyers unjustly jailed in Iran, including Nasrin Sotoudeh and Amir Salar Davoodi. COVID-19 is causing a breakdown in Iran. The country is dealing […]