The AED/EDL (European Democratic Lawyers) offices in Berlin, Barcelona, Madrid, Utrecht, Paris, Rome, Brussels, Athens have issued a joint statement expressing concern for the new detention of lawyer Aytaç Ünsal.

The AED/EDL called “on the Turkish authorities to restore the rule of law and stop the practice of targeting lawyers. By aggressing the defence, personified in this case by Aytaç Ünsal, Turkish authorities are in fact attacking the rule of law and human rights in Turkey.”

The statement added: “It must be highlighted that Aytaç Ünsal has been attacked in his role as a human rights defender and we therefore call on the Turkish authorities to let him, as well as all other lawyers, to work freely and safely.”

People’s Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, was taken into custody in Edirne in the evening of 9 December 2020. On 3 September 2020, he had been released by the Court of Cassation, which postponed the execution of his sentence due to the deterioration of his health as a result of his long hunger strike (213 days) demanding the right to a fair trial. The other lawyer who went on hunger strike with him, Ebru Timtik, died from her prolonged fast.

On 23 November, police raided the house where Aytaç Ünsal was being treated. The raid put him on high risk of infection due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of his already weak immune system.

Aytaç Ünsal’s colleagues, who were present in the house during the police raid, were also detained and their belongings plundered.

AED/EDL said: “Aytaç Ünsal, in very fragile health conditions as a result of the hunger strike, was tortured by the political police when he was taken into custody in Edirne. Our colleague was taken off the vehicle and laid on the ground, stepped on, and his head hit the asphalt ground. Due to this fall, Aytaç Ünsal’s face and various parts of his body were injured.”

AED/EDL called “on the Turkish authorities to restore the rule of law and stop the practice of targeting lawyers. By aggressing the Defence, personified in this case by Aytaç Ünsal, Turkish authorities are in fact attacking the rule of law and human rights in Turkey.”