justice. In their hands, they held photographs of detained lawyers Atalay, Utku
and Güngör and placards that read “The Defence Cannot be Arrested.”
The police that filled the courthouse on that day forcefully expelled the
lawyers from the courthouse. Lawyers were dragged across the ground and
many of them were injured due to the excessive force used by the police.
Lawyer Gökmen Yeşil’s nose and lawyer Erkan Ünüvar’s ankle broke. The
violence against lawyers in the courthouse provoked great reactions among
all who were attending the hearing in solidarity with the tried lawyers,
including lawyers, deputies who supported the protests, and members of
the general public as well.95 Nine lawyers were taken into custody and were
released on the same day.96
Following the first Watch, lawyers gathered again the following Thursday at
noon in front of the Themis statue. The protest started this way and continued
for 87 weeks. After their silent protests, lawyers, who gathered with the
photographs of their detained colleagues, would issue press statements in
front of the courthouse. Attempts to prevent the Watch sometimes gave rise
to funny situations. When the lawyers arrived in front of the Themis statue
for the 28th Watch, they saw that the area was closed because it was being
cleaned. Lawyers picked up mops, cleaned the area themselves and continued
the Watch. In its further course, the Watch that had started in solidarity with
the arrested lawyers of the Cumhuriyet evolved into one that addressed
pressure against lawyers more generally.
After the first 87 weeks, the Justice Watches started to be held once a month
in a different city, rotating among 12 cities. The protests were suspended in
March 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. During the pandemic, the “Justice
Watchers” once gathered online, where they were joined by the presidents of
21 Bar Associations.97 Suspension of physical gatherings were still in place at
the writing of this report.
95 Day of shame at the judicial complex: Violent police intervention (07.04.2017; Cumhuriyet): https://www.cumhuriyet.
The 56th Justice
Watch. Lawyer Akın
Atalay, Chairperson
of the Cumhuriyet
Executive Board a day
An investigation was launched against Aytaç as a result
of the Justice Watch. He was acquitted on November 10,
2020.98
after he was released
The Justice Watch not only became a voice for detained
lawyers but also for different groups seeking justice in
Turkey. The Justice Watch also supported the Saturday Mothers,99 who used
to gather at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul at noon every Saturday to demand
information about the fate of, and commemorate the victims of enforced
disappearances. Since the Saturday Mother’s 700th week of protest, in August
2018, they had been facing obstacles and been banned from gathering. The
Watch also amplified the voices of Academics for Peace.100
from prison.
Similarly, the Justice Watch supported the Central Council of the Turkish
Medical Association (Türk Tabipler Birliği - TTB), who called for peace by issuing
com.tr/haber/day-of-shame-at-the-judicial-complex-violent-police-intervention-715706
96 The Governorship of Istanbul filed a criminal complaint against these 9 lawyers, claiming that 8 police officers had been
98 Kemal Aytaç (Sessizkalma): https://www.sessizkalma.org/en/defender/kemal-aytac-2/
injured during the intervention. The lawyers were tried and eventually acquitted.
99 Saturday Mothers/People (Sessizkalma): https://www.sessizkalma.org/en/defender/saturday-mothers-people/
97 On April 24, 2020, the Justice Watch was broadcasted online [Bir kez daha “Adalet” demek için. Baro Başkanlarının
Katılımıyla #AdaletNöbeti (24.04.2020; Adalet Nöbeti): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbX8NxyVSY0]
100 Academics for Peace (Sessizkalma): https://www.sessizkalma.org/en/defender/academics-for-peace/
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T H E J U S T I C E WAT C H
A DEFENSELESS DEFENSE
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