Dilek Ekmekci

TURKEY: the OIAD denounces the repression and forced hospitalisation of Dilek Ekmekci

22 October 2024

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger endorses the recent resolution adopted by the Paris Bar Council, expressing its solidarity with Turkish lawyer Dilek Ekmekci. The lawyer is facing repressive measures aimed at silencing her.

After being imprisoned in Istanbul’s Bakirköy prison since 1 September 2024 for ‘denigrating Turkish officials’, Ms Ekmekci was placed in forced hospitalisation by decision of the Ankara Criminal Court on 3 October 2024.

This three-week hospitalisation was officially justified on medical grounds, but it was clearly an attempt to discredit the lawyer by invoking public order disturbances.

Dilek Ekmekci’s release was ordered at the end of the first hearing of her trial on Tuesday 22 October 2022, but she was taken back into custody before being freed.

The Observatory strongly condemns the repressive measures taken against Dilek Ekmekci, which show a clear intention to silence her and undermine the fundamental principles of justice and human rights.

The Observatory urges the Turkish authorities to immediately cease these abusive practices against Ms Ekmekci.

The Observatory calls on the international legal community and bar associations throughout the world to take action to denounce these abuses and to support the defence of the rights of Mr Ekmekci, who is the victim of repression aimed at muzzling her voice and weakening the rule of law in Turkey.

The Observatory recalls that according to principle 16 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, “Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (…)”.