Law Society alarmed by lawyers' arrests in Istanbul

The Law Society of Scotland joins with colleagues at the International Bar Association and other bar associations world-wide to voice extreme concern over the unlawful arrest of a significant number of lawyers at Çağlayan Court in Istanbul, Turkey on 11 June 2013, during a peaceful demonstration.

The arrests coincide with reports of widespread protests and police brutality in Turkey.

The lawyers were attending the courthouse in solidarity with Gezi Park demonstrators who had been arrested earlier in the day and were in the process of issuing a press release relating to the protests, when their arrests began. They were handcuffed and detained in custody for several hours before they were finally released.

Bruce Beveridge, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: "These reports are worrying in the extreme.

"The Society deplores the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders and the excessive force exercised by the state against peaceful demonstrators in Turkey and we join with our colleagues in condemning this action without reservation.

"We call for an immediate end to state violence against peaceful demonstrators."

ENDS                                                                   

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Journalists can contact Julia Brown on 0131 476 8204.

Email: juliabrown@lawscot.org.uk

For out of hours press inquiries please call 0131 266 7411.

17 June 2013