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France Voices Concern over Death of Jailed Turkish Lawyer on Hunger Strike

Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik in the Gezi District of Istanbul, August 28, 2020. (AFP)
Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik in the Gezi District of Istanbul, August 28, 2020. (AFP)
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France Voices Concern over Death of Jailed Turkish Lawyer on Hunger Strike

Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik in the Gezi District of Istanbul, August 28, 2020. (AFP)
Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik in the Gezi District of Istanbul, August 28, 2020. (AFP)

France on Saturday expressed its “consternation” and its deep sadness following the death of Turkish lawyer Ebru Timtik who went on hunger strike for 238 days, calling on Ankara to respect human rights.

“France honors the commitment of this lawyer for the rule of law and the respect of fundamental freedoms, mainly the right to a fair trial,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It said: “Paris calls again on Turkey to respect its international engagements, notably the Convention to safeguard human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the Council of Europe.”

The Ministry demanded the quick release of lawyer Aytac Unsal, also on a hunger strike for more than 200 days.

Last Thursday, the People’s Law Office said on Twitter that Timtik had been on strike in demand of a fair trial, and that she died after her pulse had stopped earlier in the day in an Istanbul hospital.

International lawyers rights groups said that Timtik, sentenced to more than 13 years in prison, and colleague Unsal began fasting in April “to strengthen their demand for fair trials and the administration of justice in Turkey.”

The two lawyers had said they would “persist in their hunger strike even if it leads to their deaths,” according to the Aug. 11 statement by the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, the International Association of Lawyers and others, according to Reuters.

This is not the first time a prisoner in Turkey dies from a hunger strike.

Helen Bolek, an activist of the anti-imperialist cultural team “Yoram Group” demanding freedom of expression, died on April 3 this year following 288 days of hunger strike.

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Netanyahu’s Trial Moved to Tel Aviv for Security Reasons

FILED - 23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
FILED - 23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
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Netanyahu’s Trial Moved to Tel Aviv for Security Reasons

FILED - 23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
FILED - 23 May 2023, Israel, Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement in the Knesset. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

The Shin Bet security agency and the Courts Administration in Israel issued on Monday a joint statement confirming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security fears when he will testify at the Jerusalem District Court next week.

They recommended that for security reasons, the PM’s testimony should be moved to the basement floor of the Tel Aviv District Courthouse.

“After reviewing the various threats and based on relevant information, including some received from the Israeli army and after advice from a security expert we report our position is that hearing the prime minister's testimony at this time at the Jerusalem District Court should be avoided, even if there is a secure area on the same floor of the building,” the Shin Bet wrote in their notification to the court on Friday.

The notification also said there was discussions between the court's administration and representatives of the Shin Bet where top secret information was provided on the threats against the PM, amid the war in Gaza, that pose challenges to his security.

It said an alternative location in the basement of the court building in Jerusalem that met the requirements was suggested but the Courts Administration said it was not suitable for the session and other locations in Jerusalem were ruled out, while the basement floor of the Tel Aviv District Courthouse was found to be acceptable to all.

Netanyahu's defense attorney in his corruption trial had repeatedly raised the issue of his client’s security concerns.

Those concerns increased when four Israelis fired two flares at the Caesarea home of Netanyahu on the night of November 16 during weekly protest activities against the PM and the government.

Although the defendants have claimed that their behavior was a legitimate protest intended to provoke and not to assassinate Netanyahu, the State Prosecution considered their act a serious threat to the PM. They were indicted on security charges and could spend up to 20 years in prison.

On Monday, the Shin Bet did not clarify whether the security threats were due to Israeli opponents or foreign parties, noting that drones launched from Lebanon also targeted Netanyahu's home.

The PM’s defense attorney, Amit Hadad, had asked the Courts Administration to seriously consider the security threats.

“I remind you that we are talking about the elected prime minister of Israel. A prime minister of Israel (Yitzhak Rabin) had previously been killed.”

Earlier, the attorney had asked that the trial be postponed until the war was over.

But when his request was rejected, Hadad requested a 15-day postponement, citing lack of preparation due to Netanyahu’s intense schedule leading the country during a war.

Last Tuesday, the Jerusalem District Court partly granted the PM a seven-day postponement of his scheduled testimony until next Monday.

The court’s decision means that Netanyahu is expected to testify three days per week for seven hours each time.