Report on the Day of the Endangered Lawyer

The image in this article is a picture of one male and one female lawyer behind bars.  The text reads, "Day of the Endangered Lawyer.  24th January 2013.  Keep your hands off the lawyers".

The Report on 2013's Day of the Endangered Lawyer has been published.  The Haldane Society, alongside our international comrades, participated in the actions on the day and in the creation of the report.

Click here to download the report.

Emergency Protest Over the Current Guantánamo Bay Hunger Strike

The London Guantánamo Campaign invites you to join us at an emergency protest over the current hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay

Sunday 17 March, 2-4pm
US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE
(nearest tube: Bond St/Marble Arch)

We will have speakers and an open mic.

 Hunger strikes: “the weapon of those who have nothing but their bodies with which to protest” ("Borderline Justice", Frances Webber, 2012)

Almost all of the 166 prisoners at Guantánamo Bay have been on hunger strike since early February. This protest which has led to force feeding against the human rights of prisoners and some prisoners losing over 15kg in weight was prompted by the confiscation of personal items from cells and the desecration of copies of the Koran. In a letter sent by lawyers for the prisoners to the prison commander on 4 March, they state that the “situation is potentially life-threatening.” The US military denies the situation, which is clearly getting out of hand.

Over half of the prisoners have been cleared for release and less than a dozen face any charges after more than a decade of arbitrary detention. The desperation shown in the latest episode of this hostage crisis has been ignored by the mainstream media. We invite you to join us as we protest this injustice.

For more details, please call Aisha on 07809 757 176 or e-mail london.gtmo@gmail.com

Persecution of Environmental Activists by EDF

The Haldane Society supports the direct action taken by the 21 No Dash for Gas activists at West Burton power station in October 2012. Our government is not taking the threat of climate change and the need to transition to a low carbon energy system seriously. The activists who took this action acted in the tradition of the suffragettes and the abolitionists who demanded structural change and justice through civil disobedience.

The Haldane Society condemns the move by EDF to pursue the activists in a civil case for £5 million. We believe this to be an abuse of the legal process and a cynical attempt to put people off dissent and undermine the right to protest. We call on EDF to drop the civil action and we call on people to sign this petition demanding the same:
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/tell-edfenergy-to-drop-legal-action-against-no-dash-for-gas-activists

Socialist Lawyer 63 Out Now

The new edition of Socialist Lawyer magazine has now been dispatched to members.  Should you not receive a copy by this Friday we would be grateful if you would let us know so we can correct our records if necessary.

Judicial Review Consultation Response

The Haldane Society has responded to the Ministry of Justice's consultation on "reform" of judicial review.  The reform proposals would see access to judicial review massively restricted, thereby impacting on the ability of individuals to hold the government to account through the courts.  The proposals, if brought into law, would:

• Reduce the time limit for judicial review, making it almost impossible for individuals, but not large corporations, to comply with the requirements in time;
• Limit access to judicial review by restricting oral renewal hearings, allowing the oral rehearing of an application which was rejected on the papers.
• Increase fees and so remove the ability of almost every ordinary person to apply for judicial review.

Download the Consultation Response

New Haldane Banner

The Haldane Society is proud to unveil our new banner.

The banner was designed by Ed Hall.  It features the name of the society around a fist holding the scales of justice, behind a pile of law books.  In the foreground are images of people holding up the ideals the society seeks to defend.

Mass Arrest of Turkish Lawyers

The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers expresses its utmost concern about the new mass arrests of Lawyers in Turkey.

The image in this article is the logo of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD).

According to the Turkish media police forces launched raids in seven provinces early this morning against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C).  Fifty-five people, including 15 lawyers, were detained in the raids on suspicion of links with the organization. Nine of fifteen lawyers are reportedly members of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD), including an executive board member of the association, Güçlü Sevimli, and Istanbul branch head Taylan Tanay.  An arrest warrant has also been issued for the ÇHD President, Selçuk Kozağaçlı, after police failed to locate him during the raid. 

ÇHD has for many years been a sister organisation to the Haldane Society through the European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights. Its President, our colleague Selçuk  Kozağaçlı, was an invited speaker to the Haldane Society's conference on Defending Human Rights Defenders in February 2012.

This is the second wave of arrests carried out by the Turkish authorities: mass arrests were carried out in 2012 against 46 lawyers accused of getting orders from Öcalan, transmitting the orders to the alleged [KCK] organization, leading to actions as a result of such orders and informing Öcalan about the results.

By arresting these lawyers the Turkish State not only prevents them from exercising their professional duties but also denies their clients the right to be represented by a lawyer of their choice. Both acts are a violation of human rights, under the European Convention of Human Rights Art. 6, Para 2, c and the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, 1, ” All persons are entitled to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice”, and 18, “Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions.”

The Haldane Society demands:

1. The immediate release of the arrested lawyers.
2. That lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions.
3. The Turkish State shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
4. The full implementation of all International and all European law ratified by Turkey concerning the right to a fair trial, i.e. Art. 14 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art. 6 European Convention on Human Rights.
5. The full implementation of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers i.e. Art. 7, 8, 16, 182. That all persons arrested or detained, with or without criminal charge, shall have prompt access to a lawyer, and in any case not later than forty-eight hours from the time of arrest or detention.

The Haldane Society within its resources will give the arrested lawyers all possible assistance.