Diyarbakır Bar President Nahit Eren: “We have an obligation to defend the supremacy of law and the independence of the judiciary.”

Bar Association President Nahit Eren, to whom we’ve talked about the new vision and perspective of Diyarbakır Bar Association in the new period, stated that Turkey has a problem on independent and impartial judiciary and said, " As civil society and legal organizations we have an obligation to defend the supremacy of law and the independence of the judiciary under all circumstances."

President Nahit Eren who expressed that they had started their duty at a time when the active working areas of civil society organizations and non-governmental professional organizations in Turkey had been restricted and suppressed, said that Diyarbakır Bar Association was known for its struggle in the field of human rights for years. Stating that Diyarbakır Bar Association had proved its strength at the field with the labour it had put forward as well as the prices it had paid, Eren said: “Every president and every administration of Diyarbakır Bar Association is under the obligation to keep this mission of the Diyarbakir Bar Association going. We are also aware of the weight of the problem on our shoulders. We are the members, managers, and presidents of a bar association that had lost its president for this cause. Being aware of this responsibility, we will continue our efforts in the field of human rights, especially in our fight against impunity.”

The problem of independent and impartial judiciary…

Nahit Eren who expressed that Turkey has a problem on independent and impartial judiciary as one of it’s most important problems said: “There is a serious judicial crisis and a serious problem about the judges in Turkey. In this atmosphere, legal organizations have more responsibility. As civil society and as legal organizations, we have an obligation to defend the supremacy of law and the independence of the judiciary under all circumstances.”

Stating that the struggle of the Diyarbakır Bar Association is not limited to a region, Nahit Eren said: “No matter where in Turkey we will not withhold our power in the fight against such violations of rights which will affect the society in general, especially in the struggle against impunity.” Expressing that they see the rights and freedoms of the individual as a priority, Eren said: “Diyarbakır Bar Association will be involved in the legal fight against a violation of rights in Hopa, in a trial in Trabzon, against a violation of rights in Mersin or will be involved in the struggle against racist discourses. Diyarbakır Bar Association will provide the necessary legal support and solidarity against all kinds of violations and dynamics in the fields of children’s or women’s rights wherever in this country, together with the bar associations there. This, I think is an important role, duty and mission of the Diyarbakır Bar Association.”