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Turkish lawyers focus of 2019 Day of the Endangered Lawyer

The Day of the Endangered Lawyer is focusing on Turkey, where lawyers from all ideological and social backgrounds are trying to practice their profession under alarmingly increasing pressures.
Riot police lead a group of lawyers gathering in Sur district to commemorate the late Diyarbakir Bar Association President Tahir Elci on the third anniversary of his death from gunshot wounds, in Diyarbakir, Turkey November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar - RC1666DBA450

Selcuk Kozagacli, an outspoken human rights attorney and chairman of the Progressive Lawyers Association (CHD), appeared Jan. 29 at his father's grave handcuffed to a police officer. He had been brought to the funeral from his prison cell. A young attorney bending down handcuffed by his father's grave, shoveling soil with one hand, is regarded by many as a cruel and unusual punishment of critical voices in Turkey.

Attorney Didem Baydar Unsal from the People’s Law Office told Al-Monitor that Kozagacli was handcuffed for 26 hours while being transported to and from his father’s funeral. Although security personnel knew Kozagacli was not a flight risk, they did not unlock the handcuffs or let him mourn with his family for fear of their own superiors.

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