Lawyer arrested during IMM protests: 'Our robes have no buttons, we have no tolerance for injustice'

Lawyer Ahmet Keskin, who was arrested after taking on the defense of citizens detained during protests following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President and CHP Presidential Candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu and his colleagues, has sent a message from prison. Keskin, a CHP member and a lawyer with the Bursa Bar Association, shared his experiences and observations in a letter written from the Bursa H-Type Prison, where he is being held.

"I was born, raised, and worked in this city. I built my life here. I carried out the struggle for the rights of my clients," said Keskin, stating that the accusations directed at him were solely related to his professional activities.

Keskin stated, "I learned that a young person who had been detained was being beaten. I went to the scene and told the police that they needed to conduct the process in accordance with the law. The next morning, my house was raided."

Keskin noted that he has taken on the cases of hundreds of clients throughout his professional life, representing their secrets and their struggles for rights. In his letter, Keskin used the following expressions:

"Lawyering is an inalienable duty. No one from the outside can maintain the bond of trust established with a client. Yet today, I am being punished for fulfilling this duty."

Stating that he is not alone and that thousands of lawyers are facing pressure for similar reasons, Keskin said, "It is not just me here. Thousands of lawyers who are fighting for justice and defense in Turkey are being arrested. When the right to daily defense is obstructed, injustice emerges."

At the end of his letter, Keskin made a call with these words:

"Our robes have no buttons, we have no tolerance for injustice."

News Source: 12punto