Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe grants exceptional award to lawyer Ebru Timtik

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The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) has granted a posthumous Human Rights Award to late lawyer Ebru Timtik, who lost her life on August 27 after a 238-day death fast demanding a fair trial.

"Ebru Timtik was a distinguished Turkish lawyer belonging to the Progressive Lawyers Association [ÇHD] and the People's Law Office," the CCBE said in a statement announcing the awards. "Together with several other lawyers, she was victim of judicial harassment and was accused of being a member of a terrorist organization under Turkey's sweeping anti-terrorism laws."

Aytaç Ünsal, who joined Ebru Timtik in the death fast 10 days later and ended his strike after a high court ruled for his release, accepted the award in the name of Timtik at a virtual ceremony yesterday (November 27).

"Ebru is here today"

In his speech at the ceremony, Ünsal said, "Ebru was a very good lawyer. Ebru was my colleague and friend. In the death fast, we together went through a long journey that lasted for months. We shared the hunger. But our hunger was not for food. We were hungry for justice. At the end of the death fast, we lost Ebru physically. But I would like to underline that Ebru is here today. She is with me right now. And she will always live in the peoples' struggle for a fair trial and justice.

"As you know, peoples' basic rights and the right to a fair trial are under attack. The situation is like this in not only Turkey but all over the world. The basis, the essence of attorneyship is rights advocacy. It is to continue defending the people and our rights when all legal channels are blocked. Ebru showed this to all of us.

"She will continue to live in the practice of lawyers with these ideals. Thank you for your efforts in solidarity with us and for this special award."

What happened?

Lawyer Ebru Timtik lost her life on August 27, the 238th day of her death fast. Aytaç Ünsal ended his death fast after and accepted treatment the Court of Cassation ruled for his release on probation.

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The 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld the sentences of all ÇHD lawyers apart from Barkın Timtik, Selçuk kozağaçlı and Ezgi Çakır.

A decision was not given regarding Timtik due to her death. The enforcement of Ünsal's sentence was postponed until his treatment was finished.

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(AS/VK)