*/
The Bar Council and Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) highlighted the plight of persecuted lawyers in Egypt to mark the eighth International Day of Endangered Lawyers, as the profession remembered lawyers at risk around the world.
Growing reports show that the Egyptian government continues to issue travel bans, freeze assets and detain human rights lawyers, as part of a sustained campaign to intimidate and undermine their work.
Prominent figures facing persecution include Azza Soliman, a women’s rights lawyer and co-founder of the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, Malek Adly, a human rights lawyer and director of Lawyers Network at the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, and Khaled Ali, a workers’ rights lawyer.
Bar Chair, Andrew Walker QC said: ‘Through the intimidation of lawyers, authorities dismantle and undermine the fundamental freedoms of their citizens.’
He said: ‘The Bar Council along with BHRC stands in solidarity with those lawyers across the world, and in particular the lawyers of Egypt, who show courage and determination in striving to uphold the rule of law in the face of persecution.’
The two organisations also called on the Iranian authorities to release lawyers detained there, including Abdolfattah Soltani and Narges Mohammadi.
In a letter to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, they expressed ‘profound concern for lawyers and other human rights defenders in Iran who continue to be persecuted for undertaking their professional obligations to their clients’.
BHRC Chair, Kirsty Brimelow QC said: ‘Iran has an international legal obligation to allow its lawyers freedom to perform their professional functions. It is in breach of that obligation.’
She said she hoped that President Rouhani would address the issue as a matter of urgency.
The Bar Council and Bar Human Rights Committee (BHRC) highlighted the plight of persecuted lawyers in Egypt to mark the eighth International Day of Endangered Lawyers, as the profession remembered lawyers at risk around the world.
Growing reports show that the Egyptian government continues to issue travel bans, freeze assets and detain human rights lawyers, as part of a sustained campaign to intimidate and undermine their work.
Prominent figures facing persecution include Azza Soliman, a women’s rights lawyer and co-founder of the Centre for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, Malek Adly, a human rights lawyer and director of Lawyers Network at the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, and Khaled Ali, a workers’ rights lawyer.
Bar Chair, Andrew Walker QC said: ‘Through the intimidation of lawyers, authorities dismantle and undermine the fundamental freedoms of their citizens.’
He said: ‘The Bar Council along with BHRC stands in solidarity with those lawyers across the world, and in particular the lawyers of Egypt, who show courage and determination in striving to uphold the rule of law in the face of persecution.’
The two organisations also called on the Iranian authorities to release lawyers detained there, including Abdolfattah Soltani and Narges Mohammadi.
In a letter to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, they expressed ‘profound concern for lawyers and other human rights defenders in Iran who continue to be persecuted for undertaking their professional obligations to their clients’.
BHRC Chair, Kirsty Brimelow QC said: ‘Iran has an international legal obligation to allow its lawyers freedom to perform their professional functions. It is in breach of that obligation.’
She said she hoped that President Rouhani would address the issue as a matter of urgency.
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
Most of us like to think we would risk our career in order to meet our ethical obligations, so why have so many lawyers failed to hold the line? asks Flora Page
If your current practice environment is bringing you down, seek a new one. However daunting the change, it will be worth it, says Anon Barrister
Creating advocacy opportunities for juniors is now the expectation but not always easy to put into effect. Tom Mitcheson KC distils developing best practice from the Patents Court initiative already bearing fruit
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
The long-running fee-paid judicial pensions saga continues. The current cut-off date for giving notice of election to join FPJPS is 31 March 2024, and that date now gives rise to a serious problem, warns HH John Platt