Istanbul Bar Association President Atty. Filiz Saraç: "Our colleagues and citizens who have been detained must be released immediately"

Due to the May 1st Labor Day, lawyers were detained alongside citizens. Istanbul Bar Association President Atty. Filiz Saraç held a press conference regarding the matter.

Saraç reminded that protesting is a right under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and further stated that these obstructions constitute a violation of rights.

Saraç's statement is as follows:

''Happy May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day; I celebrate this beautiful day for all our workers. The right to assembly and demonstration is a fundamental right, regulated by the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. In 2023, the Constitutional Court, in its ruling, characterized the obstructions to the assembly and demonstration intended to be held in Taksim as a violation of rights. However, we have seen that this year, once again, the right to assembly and demonstration was sought to be denied through an unlawful administrative decision. Today, information is reaching our Bar Association that our citizens who came to exercise their constitutional rights have been detained. We are currently on the ground with our colleagues from the relevant centers and commissions to provide legal support regarding the detentions. These detentions must be ended immediately, and it is necessary to ensure that the May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day is celebrated in a manner befitting the holiday.''

Saraç stated that 4 of her colleagues were in custody. She reported that she was at the Kağıthane District Police Department with Bar Association Secretary General Atty. Burcu Öztoprak Alsulu, Lawyer Rights Center Spokesperson Atty. Burak Kahan Kaya, Women's Rights Center Spokesperson Atty. Birsen Baş Topaloğlu, and other colleagues to secure the release of their detained colleagues.