Forced intervention to death-fasting arrested lawyers

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It has been announced that arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, who have been on a death fast for their right to a fair trial, were taken to a hospital in early evening hours yesterday (July 30).

The hospitalization of the lawyers came shortly after the court rejected their request for release despite a Forensic Medicine Institution report indicating that "it was not suitable for them to stay in prison."

CLICK - Death-fasting arrested lawyers Timtik, Ünsal not released

According to the statements made on the social media accounts of the People's Law Bureau (HHB) and Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), while Ebru Timtik has been taken from Silivri Prison to Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul, Aytaç Ünsal has been taken from Silivri to Halkalı Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Hospital.

As of today, Ebru Timtik has been on a death fast for 211 days and Aytaç Ünsal for 180 days for their right to a fair trial.

37.ACM'nin hastaneye sevk kararı sonrasında, zorla müdahale amacıyla Av. Aytaç Ünsal, İstanbul Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Kanuni Sultan Süleyman EA Hastanesi (Küçükçekmece)'ne kaçırıldı.

Tüm meslektaşlarımızı bu cinayet teşebbüsüne karşı engel olmaya hastaneye çağırıyoruz.

— Çağdaş Hukukçular Derneği (@chdgenelmerkez) July 30, 2020

'Medical ethics do not allow forced intervention'

Sharing a message on its Twitter account shortly after their hospitzalization, the İstanbul Medical Chamber said, "We are reminding our colleagues: Medical ethics do not allow forced intervention under any circumstances. Don't forget that what is important is the medical science."

Av. Ebru Timtik ve Av. Aytaç Ünsal ATK'nın raporuna karşın tahliye edilmeyip Sadi Konuk ve Kanuni EA Hastanelerine yatırıldılar. Meslektaşlarımıza hatırlatıyoruz: Tıp etiği hiçbir koşulda zorla müdahaleye izin vermez. Unutmayınız; aslolan hekimliktir.

— İstanbul Tabip Odası (@istabip) July 30, 2020

What happened?

The İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution released its first report on the health conditions of death-fasting arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal on July 30 and, for both of them, the Forensic Medicine Institution said that "it was not suitable for them to stay in prison."

After this report was issued in early morning hours, the attorneys of Timtik and Ünsal submitted a petition to İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court, presenting both this medical report and their request for release. 152 petitions written by lawyers abroad and petitions signed by dozens of lawyers in Turkey requesting their release were also added.

Examining the application of the attorneys, the İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court has ruled that the arrest of lawyers Timtik and Ünsal shall continue. The court has also ruled that "a writ shall be written to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office so that the necessary can be done to urgently ensure their medical follow-up and treatment in hospital conditions."

Previously held in Burhaniye Prison, lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has been on a death fast for 180 days while lawyer Ebru Timtik has been on a death fast in Silivri Prison for 211 days. Ünsal was referred to Silivri to be taken to the İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution. Their case file is currently in examination by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. (TP/AÖ/SD)