Observation of the Ankara 16th Penal Court hearing of case against former co-leader of People’s democratic party (HDP) Figen Yuksekdag 4 July 2017

Abstract

In July 2017, The Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Bar Association conducted a trial observation in the trial of Mrs. Yuksdekdag, former co-leader of the HDP party in Turkey. The observer was together with 14 other international observers denied entrance to both the courtroom and the press conference in Ankara, and has given a detailed written statement on these accounts. The observation report summarizes the current situation of the Rule of Law in Turkey and the increasing international concerns, exemplified by the case against Mrs. Yuksekdag. The Human Rights Committee of the Norwegian Bar Association express deep concern regarding the independence of the Turkish Judiciary, the extensive use of emergency decrees, the seemingly arbitrary dismissal of thousands of public servants, along with the Turkish government's criminal persecution of amongst others human rights defenders, journalists, politicians, lawyers, prosecutors and judges.