Concerns over accusation against Ankara Bar Association

On July 3, 2013, a summary of proceedings on the Gezi Park events prepared by the Ankara Police Department claimed that protests were incited and guided by a number of media and non-governmental groups, including the Ankara Bar Association, accusing them of being anti-governmental.

The Ankara Bar Association was specifically accused of illegally promoting people to lodge complaints against the police and other executive bodies for the disproportionate use of force against them during protests.

Alerted over the past months about the increase in attacks against the legal profession in Turkey, the UIA expressed its concerns regarding the situation of the Ankara Bar Association and it called authorities to stop immediately any actions aimed at curtailing the independence of the bars.