İstanbul Bar Association is not alone

İstanbul Bar Association is not Alone

23 December 2024

It is reported that a “terror” investigation has been launched against the chairman and executive board members of the İstanbul Bar Association who stated that the murder of the Kurdish press workers, Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, was a violation of international law and the Geneva Humanitarian Law and called for the necessary judicial proceedings to be implemented for the two journalists who were killed in a drone strike while carrying out their journalistic activities in a conflict zone in Syria. The Executive Board of İstanbul Bar Association, has fulfilled its duty, under the Law on Lawyers, to defend the rule of law and the values of human rights. Targeting and killing of press workers who have not actively involved in wars and conflicts is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. It is unacceptable that the prosecutors’ offices, which have not taken any action to clarify the incident, have initiated investigations against the executives of the Istanbul Bar Association.

We reiterate our call to the authorities and judicial bodies. The targeted killing of members of the press is in violation of international humanitarian law. All necessary proceedings must be taken immediately against those who are responsible for the murder of the journalists. The investigations launched against the chairperson of the İstanbul Bar Association and its executive board are unlawful and must be withdrawn urgently. The İstanbul Bar Association is not alone.

 

Human Rights Association