Lawyers mop up on Justice Watch

The lawyers, who find cleaning work being done each week in the area where they hold the watch, protested at this. Two lawyers started mopping while their colleagues applauded.
 
The “Justice Watch” launched in March calling for the release of Cumhuriyet newspaper’s lawyers who were detained in the trail brought against thenewspaper’s columnists, managers and lawyers continued for its 28^th week. Attending this week’s watch were the defendants in the Cumhuriyet trial, Bülent Utku, Attorney-at-Law, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, Attorney-at-Law, and Kadri Gürsel, along with CHP parliamentarian Sezgin Tanrıkulu and poet and writer Ataol Beharamoğlu.
 
CONFRONTED BY CLEANING
 
As the lawyers began to assemble in the judicial complex atrium prior to the announcement, they found cleaning work being done in the area where they hold the watch. Some lawyers expressed anger at cleaning being done at just the moment the watch was set to commence. Two lawyers said, “They are doing this for us so let’s give a hand,” and began to mop the floor. Their mopping in protest at the cleaning won the applause of their colleagues. It was learnt that the cleaning staff were working to remove cleaning material containing chemicals that had been poured on the floor.
 
ATAOL BEHRAMOĞLU READS A POEM
 
Later, the lawyers assembled at the judicial complex’s door C and made a press statement. The statement made by Şeref Kısacık, Attorney-at-Law, read: “How has it come to pass that the law is incapable of protecting citizens? Never mind citizens, it is incapable of protecting lawyers, judges and prosecutors who are doing their duty. We are passing through a period in which attacks on lawyers, judges and prosecutors has been made commonplace. We will continue to call out our demand for more justice until they hear us.”
 
Then, Cumhuriyet columnist, poet and writer Ataol Beharamoğlu, stating that the imprisoned journalists were inside for thought crimes, read the poem, “A black wind” that he wrote on 12 January 2012.