OIAD press release on threats against lawyers in the UK

Rian (Ree) Saunders / Flickr  (2012)

The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger strongly condemns the threats against lawyers in the UK for providing advice and representation on asylum and immigration matters.

On 29 July 2024, three little girls were murdered in Stockport, UK. The tragedy sparked false allegations against a Muslim asylum seeker, which led to a wave of rioting instigated by far-right activists.

Subsequently, a number of law firms and advice centres were targeted through a widely circulated social media post which published their addresses and called on others to “take action” against them. These firms were particularly targeted because they represent and advise clients on asylum and immigration issues.

The Observatory strongly condemns these threats to the legal profession based on xenophobic and racist allegations.

The Observatory expresses its total solidarity and support for the threatened lawyers and all the representative bodies of the British Bar.

The Observatory calls on the British authorities to investigate and punish the perpetrators of these serious threats, and to protect, with the necessary guarantees, the lawyers who are the victims of these threats.

The Observatory recalls that, in accordance with the United Nations basic principles on the role of the Bar, in particular principles 17 and 18:

“Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” (Principle 17)

“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.” (Principle 18)