---

IBA slams Turkey detention of human rights defender

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has condemned the continued arbitrary detention of human rights defender Osman Kavala, following the decision of a Turkish court to continue his confinement until his next hearing.

The IBAHRI has called on Turkey to release Mr Kavala as per the legally binding decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which found Mr Kavala’s trial to be unfair and in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Release

In a statement calling for the release of imprisoned human rights defenders in Turkey, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, said the case of Mr Kavala has become emblematic of a pattern of judicial harassment against human rights defenders in Turkey. 

She expressed great concern that “anti-terrorism laws are being used extensively to silence Turkish human rights defenders and disrupt their legitimate work”.