Preventive detention Mahienour El-Massry prolonged
On 18 November 2019, the the Supreme Public Prosecution again prolonged the preventive detention of Egyptian human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry for an additional fifteen days, for “investigative purposes”. Mahienour El-Massry is a prominent human rights lawyer known for her work to promote judicial independence and prisoners’ rights. In 2014, she was awarded with the […]
Follow-up concluding observations by UN Human Rights Committee
On 8 November 2019, the UN Human Rights Committee published a report evaluating the follow-up to its concluding observations on Azerbaijan. In October 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Azerbaijan’s compliance with its international human rights obligations under the ICCPR. Lawyers for Lawyers submitted two reports on Azerbaijan to the Committee: a submission on the List of Issues and […]
Kumaravadivel Guruparan barred from practicing law
On 9 November 2019 Sri Lankan human rights lawyer Kumaravadivel Guruparan was informed by the Jaffna University Council that he is no longer allowed to practice as a lawyer before the courts of Sri Lanka. The decision was made by the University Grants Commission and allegedly instigated by the Sri-Lankan military. This was reported by […]
Open letter calling for the release of Al-Roken
In an open letter to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Lawyers for Lawyers together with other organisations called for the release of prominent lawyer and human rights defender Dr Mohammed Al-Roken. The UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, proclaimed 2019 to be the “Year of Tolerance”. However, Dr Al-Roken and […]
Advocacy charter Egypt
Lawyers for Lawyers submitted an advocacy charter to several country delegations to draw attention to the situation of lawyers in Egypt with regard to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt. In March 2019 Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a report for the UPR of Egypt. In the advocacy charter, Lawyers for Lawyers highlights that the […]
Philippe Schol shot and injured
On 6 November 2019, another shocking incident involving a Dutch lawyer occurred. Philippe Schol, a lawyer working in Enschede, was shot and seriously injured by unknown assailants just across the border in Germany. An investigation into the incident and possible links with his work as a lawyer has been launched by the authorities. It has been […]
Joint letter on threats against Germán Romero Sánchez
In a joint letter to the Colombian authorities Lawyers for Lawyers, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, Colombian Caravana, Fundación Abogacía Española, Observatoire International des Avocats and Illustre Colegio de la Abogacia de Bizkaia expressed concerns about the imminent risk to lawyer Germán Romero Sánchez. On 3 October 2019, he received a direct death threat, which is feared to […]
Michel Togué’s fight against sexual and gender discrimination
“Change will come, even if it will be after me” Text: Johan van Uffelen Photo: Peter Beijen Amsterdam, commonly referred to as the epicentre of sexual freedom. October 11, International Coming Out Day. It is no coincidence that Lawyers for Lawyers has invited Michel Togué to come to the Netherlands on this particular day. The […]
International Coming Out Day Event
Michel Togué: “I’m really happy you are here to celebrate Coming Out Day. Meanwhile in Cameroon our LGBT+ people are still in the closet, because the law doesn’t allow them to be who they are.” Photo’s by: Stichting FORWARD On 11 October, to mark International Coming Out Day Lawyers for Lawyers and Stichting Forward organized […]
Czarina Musni struggles for justice
Brave clients deserve brave lawyers Tekst: Johan van Uffelen The UN Human Rights Council recently adopted a resolution which expresses great concern on the human rights situation in the Philippines. In particular with regard to the reported extrajudicial killings and violations targeting critics and human rights defenders, including lawyers. ,,Today, being a lawyer for the […]
Lawyers at Risk: Michel Togué about defending LGBT+ rights and fair trial in Cameroon
On Wednesday 9 October, Lawyers for Lawyers welcomed Geuzenpenning Laureate and human rights lawyer Michel Togué from Cameroon at a lunch briefing hosted by law firm Loyens & Loeff in Amsterdam. During this meeting, Michel Togué spoke about his experiences as one of the few lawyers in Cameroon that represents clients persecuted for their LGBT+ […]
Pre-session Iran
On 10 October 2019 Lawyers for Lawyers attended the pre-session organized by UPR-Info on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Iran in Geneva. In March 2019 Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a UPR-report on the situation of lawyers in Iran. During this session Lawyers for Lawyers called attention to the situation of lawyers in Iran, mainly focussing […]
Pre-session Kazakhstan
On 10 October 2019 Lawyers for Lawyers attended the pre-session organized by UPR-Info on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Kazakhstan in Geneva. In March 2019 Lawyers for Lawyers submitted a UPR-report on the situation of lawyers in Kazakhstan. During this session Lawyers for Lawyers called attention to the situation of lawyers in Kazakhstan, mainly focussing […]
Dagir Hasavov detained
On 17 September 2019, Russian authorities detained the lawyer Dagir Hasavov in the Lefortovo court building in Moscow. The charges filed against Hasavov are “obstruction of justice” and “bribery or coercion to testify or evasion of giving evidence” (articles 294.1 and 309.4 of the Russian Criminal Code). On 18 September, Russian courts authorised the detention […]
International statement of solidarity
On 4 October 2019, a memorial service was organized for Dutch lawyer Derk Wiersum. On this day, a international solidarity statement signed by 34 organizations including Lawyers for Lawyers was published. Mr. Wiersum, a well-respected lawyer and deputy judge, was shot in broad daylight right outside his house in Amsterdam in the early morning of […]
Seven years since the arrest of Khalil Ma’touq
Today seven 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 […]