LRWC has been advised that Turkish lawyer Aytaç Ünsal called off his hunger strike on 4 September following a stay of his detention order until he has recovered. The order was granted by Turkey’s Supreme Court on 3 September due to his state of health. His treatment by independent physicians has started. Along with lawyers around the world, LRWC wishes him a speedy recovery from the effects of the hunger strike. He began the hunger strike in February 2020.
LRWC continues to mourn the death of Ebru Timtik on 27 August 2020 after 238 days fasting to demand a fair trial for herself and many other arbitrarily detained lawyers. It is deplorable that the decision of the Supreme Court for a temporary release came to late to save her life. It is believed that the global advocacy calling attention to the situation of Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal contributed to efforts in Turkey to secure the release of Aytaç Ünsal and the end of his hunger strike.
See more in a letter signed by 17 human rights organizations on 18 August, requesting urgent action by Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to seek the release of Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal from prison.
