The march of the bar associations was stopped outside the Turkish capital Ankara and attacked by the police in the evening. The lawyer and co-chair of the local branch of the Association of Libertarian Lawyers (Özgürlükçü Hukukçular Derneği, ÖHD), Şevin Kaya, was pushed to the ground by police officers and then kicked. Other lawyers were also victims of police violence.

The protest march of the chambers against the dismantling of the rule of law had already been stopped by the police at the entrance to Ankara on Monday morning and those involved were denied entry. The security forces justified the measure by saying that "disturbance of public order" was not allowed. As a result, the lawyers began a sit-in action, which they continued despite heavy downpours that started in the early evening.

Members of the Ankara Bar Association, including Şevin Kaya, went to the scene to support the sit-in, where the protesters were detained. Security forces denied them access behind the police barricades, which was followed by the assault.

March for an independent judiciary

Chairpersons of dozens of bar associations from all over the country started the march to Ankara last Friday from several provinces. They are protesting against a draft law by the Erdoğan regime that aims to bring the uncomfortable bar associations under state control. The lawyers criticize that this would restrict their rights. The draft law will change the balance of power in the associations committed to civil and human rights in favour of the government. However, the lawyers are not only against the reform, but also demand an independent judiciary.

Erdoğan announced plans after criticism against homophobic cleric

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had announced the imminent change in the law after the Ankara Bar Association criticised homophobic statements by the chairman of the state religion authority Diyanet, Ali Erbaş. In a Friday sermon at the beginning of Ramadan, the month of fasting, at the end of April, the cleric branded adultery and homosexuality as causes of illness and as un-Islamic. As an example he referred to the spread of HIV/AIDS and also attributed the outbreak of the coronavirus to homosexuality and the living together of unmarried couples. The Ankara Bar Association then accused Erbaş of, among other things, degrading a part of humanity with hatred and making it a target. Many other bar associations joined the voices raised against the statements and mindset of Turkish religious authority.

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