Turkish gov’t detains 4 more lawyers in Mersin and Van provinces

The houses and the offices of Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği – İHD) Mersin Branch Secretary Özgür Çağlar and lawyers Mehmet Altundaş, Bedri Kuran, Ali Bozan, Rıza Oğuz and Sebahat Gençtarih were raided by Turkish police in the early morning hours.

After searches conducted in the houses, lawyers Gençtarih, Kuran and Bozan were detained by police. Despite detention warrants have reportedly been issued for lawyers Çağlar, Altundaş and Oğuz, they were not found at their addresses. Police teams’ search continues in Mersin.

Meanwhile, in Van province, Free Lawyers Platform member lawyer Erhan Çiftçiler’s home was also raided by police late in Tuesday night and he was also detained. The reason for Çiftçiler’s detention is unknow for now.

Turkish government has arrested 551 lawyers while it has been carrying out criminal prosecution about 1390 lawyers since a controversial coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

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