ICJ mourns the death of human rights lawyer Ebru TimTik

Europe and Central Asia
Issue:
Document Type: Analysis Brief
Date: 2020

The ICJ has joined other lawyers and human defenders around the world in expressing deep sadness for the loss of human rights lawyer, Ebru Timkik, in an obituary posted in several Turkish newspapers.

The death of Ebru Timkik marks a further low in Turkey’s human rights record and occurred amidst a pervasive crackdown by the Government on the rule of law and human rights in the country and on lawyers, judges and prosecutors defending them.

On 2 September, nine special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council called for effective investigations into her death that was “entirely preventable” and urged Turkey “to release other human rights defenders.”

The text of the obituary in English states:

“Deeply saddened we are by the loss of our colleague lawyer EBRU TIMTIK. She passed away on 27 August 2020 after a hunger strike of 238 days, which she started to strengthen her demand for fair trials and the administration of justice in Turkey. Her demands for justice were supported by many.

We, the undersigned, lawyers organizations from all over the world would like to pay our condolences to her family, friends and colleagues with whom she worked on human rights issues and pay tribute to her determined work to protect the rights of others and promote respect for the rule of law. Our fight to secure the release of her colleague Aytaç Ünsal continues.”

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