ISTANBUL - Condemning the detention operations against lawyers, legal organizations stated that they will not bow down to the government in the face of pressure.

 

Law organizations in Istanbul made a statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse for lawyer Gülhan Kaya, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), who were detained and later arrested as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and Mustafa Taylan, who was released after taking statements from the prosecutor's office. In the statement where the banner "The defense will not bow down" was unfurled, the slogans "The defense has not been silenced, will not be silenced" were shouted.

 

'WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN'

 

Speaking in a statement, lawyer Nagehan Avçil from ÖHD Istanbul Branch said: "A 24-hour lawyer restriction decision was brought after the detentions and our meetings were unlawfully prevented. The detention and arrest of many people, including politicians, journalists, artists and lawyers, was held in Amed on April 25. Just as we did not surrender in Diyarbakir, we will not bow down to the pressures of the government in Istanbul. We will not bow down to the government. We reject the identity of 'good lawyers' imposed on us by political power. While performing our profession, we do not accept the shadow of any political power. We will not give an account of our law practice to any powerhouse. Our struggle will continue until all our colleagues held in detention and prisons are released.”