ANKARA-  While human rights defenders keeps calling on to the Supreme Court to take action for the death fasting lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, İHD CO-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan said: "The Minister of JUstice must take initiative."

 

The death fast that was initiated by the lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) with the demand of a "fair trial" exceeded the critical threshold. Although the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) report stated that both lawyers could not remain in prison, they were not released and both are held under observation in two different hospitals. Humans' Rights Association Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan demanded the immediate release of the lawyers.

 

THEIR WILL SHOULD BE RESPECTED

 

Türkdoğan reminded that the right to life is a priority. Türkdoğan said: "But we know this very well that hunger striking is a way of protest in Turkey, especially in prisons. Those who chose to do a hunger strike should be respected."

 

MINISTER OF JUSTICE MUST TAKE INITIATIVE

 

Emphasizing that the principles of fair trial have been demolished, Türkdoğan stated that they met with the Ministry of Justice on the 200th day of their hunger strike and gave information about the situation. Türkdoğan said, "However, despite the ATK's report that say they cannot stay in prison, the Istanbul 37th court persistantly and stubbornly decided not to release them.  Therefore, we stated that the Ministry of Justice should take the initiative on this issue. We have not been able to understand the attitude of the Supreme Court. What must be done in such a situation is to release them immediately.