On Friday, the sixth hearing was held in the trial of 20 lawyers at the Istanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court. The lawyers are accused of "leadership and / or membership of an armed terrorist organization".

All lawyers standing trial are members of the left-wing lawyers' association ÇHD (Çağdaş Hukukçular Derneği, Association of Progressive Lawyers) and the HBB (Halkın Hukuk Bürosu, People's Law Office), which is known for its efforts against state repression and focuses on political processes across the country. 17 of the lawyers have been in custody since September and November 2017, respectively.

Yesterday, the court ordered the lifting of the arrest warrants of all defendants, but at the same time imposed a ban on leaving the country. Lawyers Barkın Timtik and Özgür Yılmaz, who are accused of being "organizers", have been released on condition of judicial control. The trial was adjourned to February 19, 2019.

Among the lawyers concerned is the ÇHD leader Selçuk Kozağacli, who was arrested in November. The lawyer had been arrested on the same charge in 2013 and released from custody after the charges were dropped one year later.

The 512-page indictment describes, as in 2013, only the activities of lawyers that are internationally regarded as a legal profession. The ÇHD, established in 1974 and a member organization of the ELDH (European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights), was closed about two years ago by state emergency decree.