Prison sentences confirmed for six association lawyers
18 lawyers from the lawyers associations in Turkey were convicted of terror charges in March of this year, with their collective sentences totaling 159 years. The convictions were appealed, but rejected for the six lawyers who were sentenced to less than five years in prison.
Duvar English
Prison sentences have been confirmed for six lawyers from the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and the People's Law Bureau (HHB) by an appeals court on Oct. 15.
18 lawyers from the associations were convicted of terror charges in March of this year, with their collective sentences totaling 159 years. The convictions were appealed, but rejected for the six lawyers who were sentenced to less than five years in prison. The twelve lawyers who were sentenced to more than five years in prison have the ability to appeal their sentences in the Supreme Court.
The lawyers were convicted on charges such as “knowingly and willingly assisting a terrorist organization” and “membership in a terrorist organization.
Particularly in recent years under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government, lawyers, academics, journalists and other dissidents have been frequently tried and convicted on terror charges that critics blast as baseless, arguing that they are simply a pretext for targeting critics of the government.