Diyarbakir Bar Association was established in Diyarbakır in 1927, and in the last thirty years in particular, it has emerged as one of the region’s most important civil society organizations.
Between 1988 and 2002, it conducted work to collect information on cases of evacuation and burning of villages, torture, unsolved killings and forced disappearances, and enter them into a database; and support families who were victims of violence by security forces and lawyers working on such cases. It raised awareness, drawing attention to the fact that many perpetrators and others responsible for these violations had gone unpunished. It prepared recommendations and developed projects to fulfill the basic demands of the Kurdish people. In its struggle against rights abuses in the region in particular, it stressed the importance of a legal framework, holding that mother language education and similar rights should be ensured through constitutional amendments.
During the 90s, as with the unsolved killings and disappearances in custody, it engaged in a concerted effort to shed light on thousands of crimes against the right to life, taking and pursuing cases. Although nearly everyone in the region was aware of these crimes, only a small portion of them had been taken to court. These were heard by the European Court of Human Rights, which played a vital role in the winning of the cases. It became a party human rights and freedom of expression cases, not only in Diyarbakır but in the country as a whole.
Emphasizing that the lack of solutions to the Kurdish problem led to deeper legal problems, it announced that it, together with other civil society institutions in Diyarbakır, was prepared to provide all manner of support to the peace process. A statement it published in November 2015 included the following:
Time and time again, we have stated publicly that we condemn all manner of attacks, first and foremost against the right to life as well as against our peace, brotherhood, social unity and our desire and will to live together in a democratic country; and that we are against human rights violations. The experience of forty years of heavy fighting has more than sufficed to show us that armed conflicts and actions have gained and will gain nothing for anyone, and that such actions and conflicts have caused deep, irreparable wounds in our society. Everybody must understand that as Turkey’s societies and peoples, we have no chance other than to solve all of our problems through dialogue and negotiation.
In their work to bring many files to court so that those responsible for human rights violations might be judged, its members have been arrested, targeted in bomb attacks, tortured, threatened and killed, but it remains undaunted in its fight against impunity.
On November 28, 2015, Bar Association President Tahir Elçi, representing the institution, stood in front of the Four-Legged Minaret in the Sur district and made a press statement in which he demanded the protection of cultural treasures: “Tragically, two days ago the most iconic symbol of Diyarbakır, the Four-Legged Minaret, was hit by bullets. In this common ancient place of humanity, we do not want guns, battles or operations.” After his statement, fighting broke out and he was struck and killed by a bullet to his head.
With its impartiality, its sensitivity to human rights issues, its opposition to all manner of violence no matter who employs it or for what reason, it stands as a role model in the region. At every opportunity, it underscores the supremacy of law and seeks the preservation of the principle of impartiality. It struggles for the efficient investigation of human rights violations, and fights determinedly to prevent cases being time-barred and the guilty going unpunished.
Valuable friends,
On behalf of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, I would like to thank the members of the jury for presenting the Diyarbakır Bar Association the International Hrant Dink Award which is given every year by the Hrant Dink Foundation to individuals or organizations that work for justice and freedom, that fight for human rights and that strive for a world where peace prevails.
Since its establishment, the Diyarbakır Bar Association has been an institution of law and a civil society organization that has been relentlessly continuing its fight for rights and rule of law in line with the universal human rights by remaining distant to all power circles; that has been striving for lasting peace and that has lost its most treasured members for this cause. It has deemed it a historic obligation to stand in solidarity with the oppressed. Despite all the pressures and serious processes leading to the arresting, torturing and even brutally massacring of its members, the Diyarbakır Bar Association has never taken a step back from its fight for human rights. It has always defended what is right for the restoration of justice, and has always stood by the side of the victims of injustice all around the country. Remaining distant to all political considerations, the Bar Association has taken a stance for freedom and justice, which are the most fundamental needs of humanity. With the strength taken from its history and the proud legacy inherited from Tahir Elçi, today it once again stands by the side of the oppressed and will continue to do so.
I would like to once again remember with gratitude, pay tribute to and cherish the memory of our beloved President of the Bar Association, Tahir Elçi, who dedicated his whole life to the fight for justice, rights, peace, fraternity and freedom and who lost his life for this cause. Tahir Elçi dedicated his life to finding the perpetrators of those who were taken away by force in front of their parents, spouses and children, and those whose bodies were dumped into a deserted place after being tortured or killed. Tahir Elçi was a dauntless advocate of human rights who never feared anything throughout this struggle, and an intellectual who spoke of peace until his last breath and who took his strength from the dream of people living together in peace and freedom.
The history of the oppressed is a history of the struggle of humanity. This history is also the history of people who fight for humanity and who shall never sink into oblivion and shall be forever remembered with gratitude. Here are two advocates of rights and two heroes who made history of the mankind: Hrant Dink and Tahir Elçi. They were not only the sons of two brotherly and oppressed communities who faced common destruction in the distant and recent past, but they also deserved to be the pride of mankind by standing by the side of all those who were oppressed. Despite the political circles that employ a cheap and discriminative discourse and attitude; Tahir Elçi and Hrant Dink are remembered by the people as intellectuals who spared no effort so that communities in Turkey could live in a democratic system and who recognized no measure apart from rights and justice. Those who ordered their death thinking their strong legacy would fade away and that we would not be following their footsteps, were proven wrong.
In the last one and a half year, during the course of conflict in Şırnak, Sur, Silvan, Cizre, İdil, Yüksekova and Nusaybin, there have been serious violations of all fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly the right to life. After the July 15 coup-attempt, a state of emergency was declared all around Turkey, European Convention of Human Rights has been suspended and the country has been governed by decrees having the force of law, deactivating the legislative body. Serious concerns and fear have overtaken all fragments of the society and security of individuals and rule of law have seriously been damaged.
As the Diyarbakır Bar Association, we would like to reiterate once again that the problems of Turkey can only be solved on a common democratic ground that brings together all sections of society within the framework of law.
At this point in time, it is our fundamental duty and historic responsibility to not only protect but also further flourish this legacy bestowed upon us by Tahir Elçi and Hrant Dink. And the only way to achieve this is to demand peace and to raise our voice for building peace.
Ahmet Ozmen on behalf of Diyarbakır Bar Association