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

Date01 December 2017
AuthorMaria Hessen Jacobsen
Published date01 December 2017
DOI10.1177/2032284417743143
Subject MatterAnalysis/Opinion
Analysis/Opinion
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
Maria Hessen Jacobsen
Norwegian Bar Association, Human Rights committee, Turkey
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, prosecu-
tors and judges.
Keywords
Turkey, Rule of Law, Independence of the Judiciary, trial observation
Introduction
The Norwegian Bar Association was invited by the Turkish political party HDP to observe the trial
against their former co-chair Mrs Figen Yuksekdag. The trial itself was set for July 4th 14 p.m. at
Corresponding author:
Maria Hessen Jacobsen, Advokatfirma Alvheim & Hansen Ans, Postboks 1810, Ha
˚konsgaten 5066, Bergen, Turkey.
E-mail: maria.hessen.jacobsen@alvheim-hansen.no
New Journal of European Criminal Law
2017, Vol. 8(4) 439–452
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/2032284417743143
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