Harassment against human rights lawyers Shalini Gera and Isha Khandelwal
On 6 October 2015, the local Bar Association of Bastar, India, passed a resolution prohibiting any lawyer who is not registered with the local Bar Counsel from practicing in the Jagdalpur Courts. This news has been reported by Frontline Defenders on their website. This resolution prevents human rights lawyers Ms Shalini Gera and Ms Isha […]
Lawyer Andriy Vishnevsky disbarred
On 14 October 2015, Lawyers for Lawyers wrote letters to the Ukrainian National Bar Association in connection to the disbarment of lawyer Andriy Vishnevsky. Lawyers for Lawyers considers Andriy Vishnevsky’s disbarment a violation of his right to freedom of expression. On 10 September 2015, the Qualification Disciplinary Commission of Kiev Region Advokatura decided to disbar Andriy Vishnevky. Disciplinary […]
Intigam Aliyev receives IBA Human Rights Award 2015
Lawyer Intigam Aliyev was today named the winner of the 2015 International Bar Association (IBA) Human Rights Award. Intigam Aliyev was sentenced in April 2015, on charges of “tax evasion”, “abuse of authority”, “illegal entrepreneurship”, and “appropriation”. Aliyev denies all the charges and says they are politically motivated. His arrest and conviction appear to be […]
Petition presented to Dutch House of Representatives
On 7 October 2015, Lawyers for Lawyers and Fair Trial Watch (FTW) presented a petition to the Permanent Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this petition the organizations raised concerns about the recent developments in Turkey, the human rights violations and the impunity. Lawyers for Lawyers and FTW ask the Dutch government to strongly […]
Trial against Mahienour El-Massry
On 20 September 2015, El Raml Misdemeanour Court of Appeal rejected the demurrer filed by human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry and two others to suspend the implementation of their sentence until the Court of Cassation hears the appeal of the case. On 31 May 2015 the Court of Appeal sentenced Mahienour El-Massry, along with nine […]
Update on the recent crackdown on lawyers
According to Amnesty International, as per 22 September, 245 lawyers and activists have been targeted since the nationwide crackdown started on 9 July 2015. Thirty of them are currently still missing or in police custody. Amnesty notes that four lawyers are still in police custody: Zhou Shifeng, Huang Liqun, Li Heping and Xie Yanyi. Another eight […]
Saudi Arabia and China Oral statements at UN Human Rights Council
This week, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with three other organizations, delivered two oral statements during the 30th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. On 21 September 2015, Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, L4L and FIDH/OMCT delivered an oral statement at the UN Human Rights Council. The organizations called on the Council to condemn gross, widespread […]
Thailand and Tajikistan Lawyers for Lawyers submits two UPR reports
On 21 September, Lawyers for Lawyers submitted two reports the Universal Periodic Review of Thailand and Tajikistan. Thailand In the report on Thailand, Lawyers for Lawyers highlighted the failure of Thailand to guarantee effective access to legal services provided by an independent legal profession as set out in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of […]
Lawyers for Lawyers and 3 organisations submit joint UPR report
On 21 September, Lawyers for Lawyers, together with the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Judges for Judges (J4J), submitted a joint report for the Universal Periodic Review of Swaziland. In the report, the organisations raise their concerns with regard to the continued suppression of freedom of expression, […]
Lawyers for Lawyers
Lawyers for Lawyers will be represented at the annual OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, to be held in Warsaw from 21 September to 2 October. Lawyers for Lawyers is involved in the organization of a side event during this year’s meeting. Wednesday, 23 September, Time: 13:00-15:00 Venue: Opera Title: Human Rights lawyers: Challenges and Professional […]
Arrest of lawyer Ebru Timtik
Lawyer Ebru Timtik, member of Progressive Lawyers Association (CHD), was arrested in September 2015 in front of the Austrian Consulate in Yeniköy. She was there to collect signatures for a petition in support of one of her clients whose passport was confiscated in Austria. She was arrested on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist […]
UN Side Event
Judges, lawyers, prosecutors and human rights: 30 years of UN action Tuesday 15 September 2015, 1600 – 1800 Room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva Followed by a drinks reception hosted by the IBA’s Human Rights Institute in Bar Serpent, Palais des Nations The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) invite […]
Stabbing of human rights lawyer Mahfooz Saeed
On 4 September 2015, human rights lawyer Mahfooz Saeed was attacked by two unidentified men in Malé. During the attack, he sustained stab wounds on one side of his head. This was reported by frontline defenders on their website. Mahfooz Saeed is a human rights lawyer and member of the legal team for former president […]
Criminal investigation of human rights lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan
UPDATE: On 25 August 2015, the Investigative Committee of Armenia terminated the criminal case against the human rights lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan. On 27 July 2015 human rights lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan was informed about the criminal case which was opened against him by the Special Investigative Agency. This was reported by Frontline Defenders on their website. […]
Prison officers interfere with work lawyer Snezhanna Kim
On 24 July 2015, lawyer Snezhanna Kim met with one of the clients in a detention facility in Kostanay. On this visit, she was harassed by officers of the facility. During Snezhanna Kim’s meeting with her client, an officer of the detention facility came into the room and demanded to read the notes that Kim […]
Lawyers are denied access to their clients
Lawyers Simon Banundi, Theresje Julianty Gasperz and Samuel Aaron Yensenem are facing severe obstructions while representing the legal interests of four clients. These clients had been arrested on 20 May 2015 during a peaceful demonstration and are activists of the National Committee of West-Papua (KNPB). Since 20 May 2015, the four clients have been in […]