News – Page 3

Tunisia: The international legal community condemns the detention of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami

21 undersigned legal organisations, including the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), express their deep concern following the arbitrary detention and conviction on 2 December 2025 in Tunisia of lawyer and human rights defender Ayachi Hammami, sentenced to five years in prison solely for representing defendants in the so-called “conspiracy” case. For several decades, […]

TURKEY: Urgent Joint Call for the Immediate Release of Lawyer Naim Eminoğlu

We express our deep concern over the police operation conducted on the morning of 10 December 2026 against the People’s Law Office and the arrest of lawyer Naim Eminoğlu, a board member of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association – (ÇHD) Istanbul Branch and an active member of the association’s International Relations Commission. According to the information verbally […]

United Kingdom: Concerns over rising threats and violence against lawyers

The OIAD is extremely concerned about the increase in attacks and threats against lawyers in the United Kingdom. Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW), recently reported a growing hostile climate against legal professionals, particularly those specialising in criminal, immigration and human rights law. In their survey to be published […]

End the judicial persecution of human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha

Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, the Law Society of England and Wales, the International Commission of Jurists, and the International Observatory of Lawyers in Danger express deep concern over the ongoing judicial harassment of Pakistani human rights lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha. We have received credible information indicating that the […]

Tunisia: Lawyer Sonia Dahmani released after more than one and a half years in detention

The OIAD is delighted by the release of Tunisian lawyer and columnist Sonia Dahmani, who was freed on 27 November 2025 following a decision by the Ministry of Justice. Ms Dahmani’s release comes after 18 months of international mobilisation by bar associations and active support from the International Observatory for Lawyers at Risk for her […]

Tunisia: Conviction of Ebru Timtik Award Laureate Ahmed Souab marks escalating repression of lawyers

Our organizations express their strongest condemnation following the conviction, on October 31, 2025, of Tunisian lawyer and former magistrate Ahmed Souab, who was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of administrative control by the Tunis First Instance Court. Ahmed Souab, 68, was prosecuted under Tunisia’s anti-terrorism legislation on charges of “forming and […]

GUATEMALA: 24 International organizations express concern over the detention of lawyer Ramón Cadena

Lawyers for Lawyers, the International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD), Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia, Asociación de Abogadas y Abogados, Jueces y Fiscales de Derechos Humanos de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, and the Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España, which make up the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala, as well as World […]

Preliminary conclusions of the International Mission of Jurists for Guatemala

Guatemala, 29 October 2025 – For several years, international organisations, independent missions and civil society organisations have been warning about the progressive deterioration of the rule of law in Guatemala. Six months ago, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers made an official visit to Guatemala and warned of serious risks […]

Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession

Speech by Leonardo Arnau, President of the OIAD Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession 36th National Congress of Lawyers Turin, 15 October 2025 I am very pleased and honoured to be able, on behalf of the OIAD, to deliver a welcome message to today’s conference, which represents a welcome […]

Belarus: Human rights lawyers’ association declared “extremist” amid intensifying crackdown

Belarusian authorities have designated the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) as an “extremist formation,” imposing severe legal sanctions and intensifying pressure on the legal profession. On 18 August 2025, the State Security Committee (KGB) issued a decision[1] labelling the BAHRL as extremist, effective 21 August 2025. Shortly after, the Ministry of Internal […]