Watch at Çağlayan and then Maçka

 Once again, the demand for justice for all victims of injustice was voiced. Following the justice watch, the lawyers headed off in their robes to the Justice Watch in Maçka Park. The lawyers were greeted with applause as they entered the park holding banners reading, ‘Freedom of Defence’ and ‘Justice’ and sporting photographs of our detained lawyers.

The Justice Watch, launched with the demand for the law and justice for all victims of injustice focusing on our lawyers Akın Atalay, Bülent Utku and Mustafa Kemal Güngör, who have been detained for nearly eight months as part of the investigation which includes a charge relating to our newspaper’s publishing policy, was held for the twelfth time this week. Following the one-hour watch at the judicial complex, the lawyers headed off in their robes to support the ongoing Justice Watch in Maçka Park. Citizens greeted the lawyers with applause as they walked to the park holding banners reading, ‘Freedom of Defence’ and ‘Justice’ on which photographs of Akın Atalay, Bülent Utku and Mustafa Kemal Güngör were displayed. Istanbul Bar Association Chair Mehmet Durakoğlu, who ascended the platform in the park and spoke in front of a banner reading ‘Justice’ that was unfurled here by lawyers, said that as lawyers they had sought justice all their lives and continued, ‘We have endeavoured to perform this profession on the basis of justice alone. We have always wanted the judiciary to be independent and impartial. For us, the thing called the independence of the judiciary means people living with honour and pride. Speaking of legal certainty is the ability to go about one’s business free from reproach, one’s head held high. To know that the person knocking at the door at six in the morning is the milkman. If there is no justice, we cannot stay on our feet.’

Durakoğlu, noting that they cannot remain indifferent to the demand for justice by the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, commented, ‘This country’s judiciary has become paralysed. We must resurrect it. We are moving away from democracy. Indeed, we have come from a watch. Three lawyer colleagues of ours are inside for performing their profession as lawyers. The same thing is being done to Sözcü and Cumhuriyet. There is an attempt to silence Turkey’s opposition through decrees with the force of law. You can block a few people from speaking by throwing them behind bars, but lawyers will not be silent. You will see proper lawyers in this country. We will win this case. This battle is our battle, the battle to live like humans.’

Justice Watch continues

Lawyer Ayhan Erdoğan said that we were passing through a period in time in which oppression and violence were intensifying day by day. Erdoğan said, ‘While evidence was fabricated in the Gülenist period, no trouble is even taken now to fabricate evidence. They convict you directly saying, “You are a terrorist.” We want justice and will continue the Justice Watch.’