Police Attack on 'Justice Watch' in Courthouse

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Police have attacked the Justice Watch started by the lawyers in İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan district.

Lawyer Efkan Bolaç said three lawyers were detained and Progressive Legists Association (ÇHD) İstanbul Branch President Gökmen Yeşil's nose was broken.

Attorney Meriç Eyüboğlu shared the names of the eight detained attorneys:

Kıvanç Kayaoğlu, Özge Serdar, Sevinç Sarıkaya, Erkan Ünüvar, Diren Yeşil, Kemal Aytaç, İsmail Anıl Başoğlu.

Eyüboğlu also added that attorney Erkan Ünüvar's leg was broken.

The lawyers had taken a decision to keep justice watch between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for their arrested colleagues Cumhuriyet Newspaper Executive Board President Akın Atalay, Cumhuriyet Foundation Board member Mustafa Kemal Güngör and Cumhuriyet Newspaper Attorney Bülent Utku.

The first watch was being kept today (April 6).

Storming in the courthouse after following the start of the watch, riot squad foces and private security guards attacked the lawyers.

Informing bianet of the incident, attorney Efkan Bolaç said attorneys Kıvanç Kocaoğlu, Erkan Ünüvar and an unidentified attorney were taken into custody. 

Alongside Kocaoğlu and Ünüvar, Diren Cevahir Şen, Kemal Aytaç, Özge Serdar, Sevinç Sarıkaya and İsmail Anıl Başoğlu were taken into custody, according to journalist Havva Cuştan.

“To protect rule of law…”

Attorneys Ata Yazıcıoğlu and Kemal Aytaç spoke for the justice watch on Lawyer's Day yesterday (April 5).

According to a report by Cumhuriyet daily, Yazıcıoğlu said they launched the Justice Watch to protect fundamental rights and freedoms and rule of law.

Noting that they will keep watch on every Thursday for the right of defense and fair trial, attorney Aytaç said, "April 5 is the Lawyers' Day but we cannot have such a day to celebrate in this country under these circumstances". (EKN/TK)

* Photos: Havva Custan - Headline photo: Beyza Kural.