Souad al-Shammari released!
Lawyer Souad al-Shammari was released on 29 January after three months of detention without charge. The conditions of her release and current legal status are unclear. A royal pardon had been issued that day by the new King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, but it is unclear if she was released because of it. According […]
Judicial harassment of lawyer Azza Soliman
On 24 January 2015, human rights lawyer Azza Soliman was informed that she is being investigated on charges of violating the ‘protest law’. On that day Soliman voluntarily went to the Public Prosecution’s office to give her testimony regarding the violent dispersal of a protest organized by the political party Popular Alliance on the same […]
Physical attack against lawyer in Dagestan
On 4 February 2015, a group of unidentified men attacked defence lawyer Murad Magomedov in Dagestan, causing multiple injuries. The attack took place in broad daylight during a break in a Supreme Court hearing in which Magomedov was defending his client, Akhmed Israpilov, who was on trial on charges of terrorism. The lawyer was assaulted and […]
Sentencing of lawyer Sukhrat Qudratov
Lawyers for Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales were concerned to learn the sentencing of Sukhrat Qudratov, a prominent defence lawyer in Tajikistan who had represented the former Minister of Industry, Zaid Saidov. On January 13, 2015, a court of the Capital City of Dushanbe sentenced Qudratov to nine years in a penal colony […]
Trial against Intigam Aliyev
On 23 January 2015, Intigam Aliyev’s lawyer requested in a preparatory meeting before the Criminal Court in Baku to terminate the criminal proceedings against his client. The Court rejected this request and all other applications of the defense. The case has been postponed till 3 February when the date of the first hearing will be […]
Bar rejects request to withdraw license lawyer Vo An Don
On 21 January, the Phu Yen Bar Association sent a communication to the police, prosecutors and court of Tuy Hoa city, in which they appeal to the said authorities against their request to withdraw Vo An Don’s license to practice law. According to the Phu Yen Bar Association, the request to withdraw Don’s license was […]
Authorities should allow Masoud Shafii to travel and do his work
The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) asked attention for the situation of Iranian lawyer Masoud Shafii in a letter to the Iranian authorities on 15 January. This lawyer represented three American hikers who were detained in Iran from July 2009 to September 2011. After their release, mr. Shafii’s house was searched […]
Lawyers organizations worldwide call on Aquino Government to address attacks against lawyers
At least 38 lawyers have been killed in the Philippines since 2004 for reasons apparently related to their profession. Many more lawyers have been threatened, harassed, intimidated, labeled as ‘enemies of the state’ or subjected to surveillance or other forms of attacks. Perpetrators are rarely identified and suspects seldom arrested and held accountable through prosecutions. […]
Lawyer Alaif Hasanov sentenced to community service
Alaif Hasanov was the lawyer of, amongst others, Leyla Yunus and Intigam Aliyev. In September 2014, Alaif Hasanov reported on physical pressure committed against his client Leyla Yunus, by her cellmate Ms. N. Huseynova. This report was published in the “Azadlyg” (“Freedom”) newspaper. Hereafter, N. Huseynova sued Alaif Hasanov for referring to her as “a […]
Authorities request to revoke license Vo An Don
On 16 January 2014, Lawyers for Lawyers sent letters to the Bar Association in connection to the request of several government offices to revoke Vo An Don’s lawyers license. Vo An Don is an associate at the Centre for Government Legal Aid in Phu Yen province. He provides free legal service to poor people, members of […]
Police arrest 12 lawyers on ‘terrorist charges’
On Monday 12 January 2015, sixteen people, amongst them twelve Spanish lawyers, were arrested by the police after a judge of the Audienca Nacional ordered their arrest. The Audience Nacional is a special and exceptional High Court, competent to try crimes of terrorism. The sixteen arrested are suspected of ‘membership of a terroristic organization’ and […]
Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2015
On 23 January 2015, the “Day of the Endangered Lawyer”, attention will be asked for the situation of lawyers in the Philippines. Since 2001, at least 41 lawyers and 18 judges have been murdered in the Philippines. The suspects of these crimes seem to be in the army and the police, but the government refuses to […]
Court declares indictment against lawyer Alexandru Bernaz null and void
On 29 December 2014, the Buiucani Court declared the indictment that was issued against lawyer Alexandru Bernaz on 9 September 2014 null and void. Bernaz is thus no longer subject of a criminal investigation. A few weeks before this decision, Lawyers for Lawyers called on the Moldovian authorities to conduct an investigation into the charges against […]
Sign the petition for Yara Sallam!
On 28 December 2014, Egyptian human rights lawyer Yara Sallam and 23 young activists were sentenced on appeal to a two year prison term plus two years of police surveillance following release. They were inter alia charged with violating the controversial ‘Protest Law’ when they organised a peaceful demonstration outside the Itihadeya palace on 21 […]
Lawyer Vitaly Cherkasov attacked after defending LGBTI-activist
On 25 November 2014, human rights lawyer Vitaly Cherkasov was attacked after defending an LGBTI rights activist in court. This was reported by Frontline Defenders on their website. The attackers sprayed an unknown liquid on Cherkasov. Vitaly Cherkasov is a member of the Interregional Association of Human Rights Organisation “Agora” which provides legal aid to […]
Disbarment of lawyer Khalid Bagirov for ‘breaching professional ethics’
On 24 December 2014, Lawyers for Lawyers wrote letters to the Azerbaijan Bar Association in connection to the possible disbarment of lawyer Khalid Bagirov. Lawyers for Lawyers has reason to belief that his disbarment is connected to his legitimate activities as attorney. Bagirov’s license to practise was suspended on 10 December 2014. The Presidium of the Bar […]