Free press workers attended the justice vigil held at Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Hospital for lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal who are on death fast.

Photographs of the lawyers and press worker Necdet Özsaygın, who died of a heart attack, were held by journalists who also opened a banner saying ‘Ensure justice, Ebru and Aytaç must live’.

Journalists underlined that the demands of lawyers should be accepted and said: “We need to defend the right to life of these two lawyers who are the people’s lawyers. This is the conscientious duty of everyone. We, as Journalists Defending Life, do not want to report about death anymore.”

Emre Orman read a joint statement on behalf of the journalists. "Persecution of the opposition in Turkey has reached its peak in the last five years.

“The most important task for us here is to make visible the demands of Ebru and Aytaç, who are on hunger strike for an honourable life. The government should abandon its current stance immediately. Ebru and Aytaç should be released as soon as possible, in line with the Forensic Medicine Institute's report that said that they cannot stay in prison. The 16th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court should also explain its decision and go for life by paving the way for a retrial.”

Journalist Zeynep Kuray said: "These two lawyers have defended the rights of workers, journalists, everyone. It is a shame for this country that today they are on death fast demanding a fair trial. We cannot remain silent while they are slowly nearing death. What do you want from these lawyers? Are they targeted because they do their job, because they are telling the truth? Those who remain silent today should be ashamed. Everyone needs justice. It is a human duty to claim the lawyers. Lawyers should not die or tomorrow nobody will defend you.”