Call on authorities to accept UPR recommendations on lawyers
During the interactive dialogue of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Tajikistan on 6 May 2016, Tajikistan received several recommendations with regard to the functioning and the role of lawyers in the country. Lawyers for Lawyers called on the authorities to accept and implement these recommendations in a prompt manner, to guarantee the proper functioning […]
Malek Adly released
On 28 August 2016, Egyptian human rights lawyer Malek Adly was released from prison pending further investigations in his case. This was after a Prosecution appeal was dismissed the day before, upholding a Court order of 25 August to release the human rights lawyer. Malek Adly works for the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social […]
Lawyers killed in Quetta suicide attack
On 8 Augustus 2016, a suicide bomber attacked a hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, killing dozens of people. Among the victims were many lawyers, who had gathered to mourn the loss of their colleague, the former president of the Balochistan Bar Association, Bilal Anwar Kasi who died only hours earlier. Mr. Kasi was shot dead in […]
Mahienour el-Massry released
Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the release of human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry of last Saturday 13 August, after she had served her 15-months prison sentence. On 31 May 2015 the Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction of Ms. El-Massry for, among others, “assaulting security forces”. This was after she and other lawyers went to Raml […]
Human rights lawyer Wang Yu released on bail
How much bail was paid is unknown, but Wang Yu had a high price to pay. Prior to this unexpected release, a videotaped confession of Wang Yu was circulated on Chinese state media. In this interview, Wang Yu praised the Chinese authorities, stating: “All my rights were protected. I enjoyed a civilized legal treatment”. Wang […]
Sedition charges against lawyer Surendran
Lawyers for Lawyers has called on the Attorney General of Malaysia to drop the sedition charges against lawyer N. Surendran. In August 2014, two separate sedition charges were brought against mr. Surendran. We understand that both charges were connected to critical comments made by mr. Surendan in the context of the case of his client […]
Concluding observations UN Human Rights Committee
In June 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Kazakhstan’s compliance with its international human rights obligations. The Committee has hereafter issued the concluding observations of this review. Lawyers for Lawyers welcomes the recommendation in which the Committee calls on the Kazakh authorities to “review the powers of the Office of the Prosecutor General to ensure […]
Lawyers detained after failed coup
Since the attempted coup in Turkey on 15 July 2016, more than 60.000 people have been fired or suspended from their jobs, many of whom were also arrested. Among them are 2.745 judges. Now, lawyers are also targeted. Prominent human rights lawyer and journalist Orhan Kemal Cengiz and his wife Sibel Semira Hurtas were arrested […]
Open letter about detention lawyers
The 9th of July 2016 marks one year since the unprecedented and seemingly well-coordinated detention campaign of a large number of human rights lawyers and defenders in China. In an open letter to President Xi Jinping, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with a large coalition of lawyers and lawyers organizations, expressed its continuing concern about the situation of […]
Charges against Arão Bula Tempo dropped
On 11 July 2016, the Provincial Court of Cabinda dropped the charges against lawyer Arão Bula Tempo due to a lack of evidence. L4L welcomes this decision. On 14 March 2015, Arão Bula Tempo was arrested in connection to his alleged involvement in the organization of a peaceful protest against human rights violations and bad […]
Killing of lawyer Willie Kimani
Lawyers for Lawyers was shocked to learn about the killing of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani. On 30 June 2016, the body of Willie Kimani was found along with that of his client and a taxi driver. The three had gone missing on 23 June when they left a local court. Willie Kimani was a […]
New case against lawyers: Ramazan Demir and Ayse Acinikli kept in jail
On Wednesday 22 June 2016 the criminal trial against twelve lawyers and a group of members of TUHAD-FED, an aid organization that serves as an intermediary between prisoners, relatives and lawyers, started in Istanbul. They had been arrested on March 16th 2016 and were released some days later, but lawyers Ramazan Demir and Ayşe Acinikli […]
Lawyers for Lawyers and FTW monitor trial against Ramazan Demir and Ayşe Acinikli
On Wednesday, 22 June the criminal trial of lawyers Ramazan Demir and Ayşe Acinikli will begin in Istanbul. They have already spent two months in detention on suspicion of terrorist activities. Demir previously defended both journalists and lawyers who were prosecuted by the Turkish government in mass terrorist trials. Lawyers for Lawyers and Fair Trial […]
Oral statement during ID with Special Rapporteur
On 16 June 2016, L4L, together with 7 other organizations, delivered a statement at the UN Human Rights Council, during the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers. The statement reads as follows: Mr President, As international organisations of legal professionals, we endorse the recommendation made by the […]
Oral statement at UN Human Rights Council
On 16 June 2016, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) delivered a statement at the UN Human Rights Council, on judicial accountability, and attacks on lawyers. The ICJ made the statement on behalf of a group of eight NGOs, including Lawyers for Lawyers. The statement was read out by human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko from […]
Criminal investigation against lawyer who drafted anti-torture bill
In a letter of 9 June 2016, Lawyers for Lawyers calls upon the Egyptian authorities to immediately end criminal investigations and drop all charges against lawyer Negad El-Borai. Lawyers for Lawyers has reason to believe that the charges relate to his legitimate work as a human rights lawyer, especially his important contribution to the anti-torture legislation in […]