Lawyers' Union message for the new judicial year: Problems are great, but the solution is clear

Here is the statement made by the union:

We are entering the new judicial year at a time when lawlessness has become the law of the political power, and laws passed in Parliament almost as a fait accompli are deeply affecting workers, women, animals, the environment, and thus social life and our profession as a whole. Although it has been clear for a long time that the judiciary has been instrumentalized for the political power, this period shows us again and again, with the arrest of main opposition party mayors and even the cancellation of the Istanbul provincial congress and the removal of its administration as a precautionary measure, that a design of sham democracy and politics without opposition will be carried out through the judiciary. Therefore, it is clear to us that political developments and the problems experienced in our profession cannot be considered separately.

Today, the addition of constitutional amendment or new constitution discussions to a picture where women's most basic rights are being tried to be taken away, animal and environmental massacres are being given a legal basis, and imperialism continues its wars in the countries right next to us, creates an even more serious danger for the future of the working classes in Turkey. The struggle of citizens for their rights is becoming even more difficult.

One aspect of the problems experienced in the practice of the profession is related to the economic conditions of lawyers. For a long time, lawyers' fees have been eroding against inflation, and our colleagues are becoming impoverished. While self-employed lawyers struggle to even cover their office expenses, employed lawyers are forced to work under precarious conditions for less than the minimum wage. Young lawyers are being pushed to the point of breaking away from the profession and even from life due to financial difficulties. In such a situation, the opportunities for young lawyers to provide qualified legal services are also disappearing. The public nature of the legal profession is being destroyed in such a picture, and the citizens' right to access justice is being effectively usurped.

In this new judicial year, despite being elected as a member of parliament and the clear violation rulings of the Constitutional Court, Atty. Şerafettin Can Atalay has still not been released. Many of our colleagues continue to be kept in prison and deprived of their freedom through years-long trials because they practice the legal profession. It is not possible to speak of the existence of justice in an environment where lawyers who defend judicial independence are punished.

As lawyers who fight day and night for citizens to attain their rights and who are an indispensable element of justice, we reiterate our most basic demand: A humane life and the honorable practice of our profession! We do not want to be pressured, impoverished, and ignored while performing our duty of defending rights.

Our colleagues are not alone! The problems are great, but the solution is clear: Organized struggle!

As the Lawyers' Union, which has left its tenth year behind with the motto "Defend your labor, join the union!", we call on all our colleagues to increase solidarity and struggle in this new judicial year. Because we know: We are stronger together!