Human Rights Defenders e.V. (HRD) welcomes the long-awaited release of lawyer Süleyman Yıldırım, who has been suffering from stage III cancer and was unjustly held in detention. This release comes as a result of our persistent legal advocacy both at the individual level and through our international consortium.
This decision is not merely a procedural step—it is a crucial act to protect the right to life.
For Mr. Yıldırım, who urgently needs medical treatment, this release marks the long-overdue opportunity to access proper healthcare and to live under conditions compatible with human dignity.
Demands of Human Rights Organizations
HRD and its partner organizations had issued several calls and petitions, including the following demands:
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Immediate suspension of the sentence on medical grounds,
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Full consideration of the medical reports provided by his treating physicians,
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An end to the harassment, intimidation, and punishment of lawyers for carrying out their professional duties.
These appeals extend beyond a single case; they speak to the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law in Turkey.
International Solidarity and Acknowledgment
We express our sincere gratitude to the German Bar Association (DAV) for its prompt response to our humanitarian appeal and for engaging directly with the Turkish judicial authorities.
We also extend our appreciation to Thierry Wickers, President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), for his commitment and his call upon Turkish authorities to uphold justice and human rights.
Our heartfelt thanks go to all the organizations that joined our joint statement and stood with us in defending the legal profession and human dignity:
Signatory Organizations
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Avocats Sans Frontières (Belgium)
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Association Défense Sans frontière – Avocats Solidaires (France)
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European Lawyers Foundation (Italy)
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European Criminal Bar Association (Netherlands)
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Human Rights Defenders e.V. (Germany)
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Human Rights Solidarity (United Kingdom)
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International Human Rights Advisors (United Kingdom)
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International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (France)
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Lawyers Against Transnational Repression
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Italian Federation for Human Rights (Italy)
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Justice Abroad (United Kingdom)
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Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, IAPL
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Solidarity With OTHERS (Belgium)
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The Arrested Lawyers Initiative (Belgium)
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Turkey Tribunal (Belgium)
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Weltanwälte e.V. (Germany)
A Shared Step for Justice and Humanity
The release of Süleyman Yıldırım is more than an individual decision—it represents a commitment to human dignity, the rule of law, and the independence of the legal profession.
It also demonstrates the strength of international solidarity and the collective will of human rights organizations around the world.
We wish lawyer Süleyman Yıldırım a full and speedy recovery and reaffirm our determination to continue acting with the same resolve and compassion for all ill prisoners whose health and lives are endangered by unjust detention conditions.
#HumanRightsDefenders #FreeSüleymanYıldırım #RuleOfLaw #JusticeForLawyers #HumanRights
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