The Bar Human Rights Committee has today written to the Turkish Constitutional Court, calling on them to urgently address the thousands of cases pending since Turkey’s abortive coup in July 2016. Since the attempted coup, no cases have yet been heard or resolved. 80,000 cases are currently waiting to be considered by the court, with...
The Bar Human Rights Committee and the Bar Council have today urged Prime Minister Theresa May to address ongoing human rights violations in Turkey when she meets with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday. In an open letter to the Prime Minister, BHRC and the Bar Council highlight the systematic persecution of lawyers and judges...
In a formal statement of concern published today, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales has called on the Egyptian government to lift travel bans and asset-freezing orders imposed on human rights activists Azza Soliman, Malek Adly and others. BHRC’s statement follows news that Ms. Soliman (a prominent women’s rights lawyer and co-founder...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (BHRC) has spoken out today on behalf of lawyers facing persecution in Egypt, supported by an international coalition of Bar Associations, Law Societies and other human rights organisations. In an open letter to President Sisi, BHRC condemns Egypt’s ongoing arrests and detention of lawyers, excessive and...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales has expressed its concern over the decision of the Egyptian courts to freeze the assets of human rights defenders. On Saturday 17th September, the Zeinhom Criminal Court took the decision to freeze the personal and organisational bank accounts of leading human rights defenders, including Hossam Bahgat (see...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (“BHRC”) has today expressed its grave concern at the ongoing detention of Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen detained without trial in Egypt for the last 3 years, and has called for his immediate transfer home to Ireland. Mr. Halawa was arrested as a 17-year-old child on...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) has today issued a formal statement expressing grave concern over the recent allegations of arrest, detention and prosecution of peaceful protesters in Zimbabwe, including those involved in the social media “#ThisFlag” movement, as well as allegations of torture and police brutality against those arrested and detained. The statement draws...
A joint letter signed by the Bar Human Rights Committee has been sent today to President Xi Jinping, expressing ongoing concern over China’s treatment of lawyers. The letter, coordinated by the Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group and co-signed by bar associations, law academics and practicing lawyers from around the world, also marks the first anniversary of the...
The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (BHRC) have today issued a statement expressing their deep concern and shock at the 4 July rocket attack on Camp Liberty in Baghdad, which is home to large numbers of Iranian exiles. This attack led to some 50 injuries and material damage, according to residents. Five injured...
The Bar Council and Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales have today sent a joint letter to the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK, urging him to take action to protect legal practitioners following the murder of Kenyan lawyer Willie Kimani. Kimani was kidnapped, tortured and killed in June, alongside his colleague Josphat...
The Bar Human Rights Committee is the independent,
international human rights arm of the Bar of England
and Wales, dedicated to promoting justice and respect
for human rights through the rule of law.