Society, Faculty back detained lawyers for CCBE award

Scotland's legal professional bodies have joined their counterparts across the UK in supporting five detained Egyptian lawyers for a human rights award.

The nomination for the CCBE Human Rights Award 2020 has been made by the Law Society of England & Wales, supported by the Bar Council of England & Wales, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

Nominated for the award are Zyad el-Eleimy, Mohamed el-Baqer, Mahinour el-Masry, Mohamed Ramadan and Haitham Mohammadein. Each has been held for many months in pre-trial detention, under conditions which breach international human rights law. (Click here for more information.)

The CCBE, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has granted a human rights award since 2007, to honour distinguished lawyers and lawyers’ organisations for outstanding commitment and sacrifice in upholding fundamental values. Last year, the award went to four Iranian lawyers for defending human rights in their country. This year’s winner will be announced in September.

Iain Mitchell QC, the Faculty of Advocates’ member of the UK delegation to the CCBE, commented: "At a time when fundamental rights are under attack in many places, the role of lawyers in standing up for human rights – whether defending the rights of human rights defenders, or themselves calling out abuses of the basic freedoms which have been dearly won – is of huge importance.

"It is the least we can do to show our support with these brave Egyptian colleagues who have been thrown into prison for simply doing their job. Defending the rule of law and freedom of speech is a duty, not a crime. We stand in solidarity with them in their courage and in their calling."