The following statement was issued by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), of which the NLG is a member organization. Jeanne Mirer, IC co-chair, is also President of the IADL, and IC co-chair Suzanne Adely is a member of the IADL’s Bureau.

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) is a non-governmental organization of human rights lawyers around the world.  IADL has been accredited by ECOSOC since 1969. IADL has been alarmed for some time about the growing repression in Turkey by the Erdogan government.  IADL has spoken out, sent letters issued statements to UN bodies.  Members of our national associations have attended trial observations of lawyers and others who have suffered unjust arrest and charges.

IADL understands that one of the leaders of the Progressive Lawyers Association (CHD) Selçuk Kozağaçlı was arrested on November 8, 2017 in Istanbul as he was about to attend a meeting to address attacks on human rights defenders.

IADL protests in the strongest terms the arrest of Selçuk Kozağaçlı and demands his immediate release.

Issued:
November 8, 2017

By: Jeanne Mirer
President, IADL