60 lawyers from 25 countries gathered in Istanbul to discuss their legal defense of the aid activists who were subjected to a murderous attack by the Israeli military in international waters onboard Mavi Marmara and on other five ships of the flotilla, on their way for delivering humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza. During their private discussion session, the lawyers agreed on a roadmap for their legal defense in the lawsuits.
The lawyers who held a press meeting in Akgun Hotel, stated that they will be working for the legal rights of victims from 36 countries including Israel, nationals of which were also onboard Mavi Marmara.
At the press meeting, the lawyers stated that they will be following a joint roadmap of legal action in their defense of the activists who were subjected to a murderous attack by Israel. The lawyer of Rachel Corrie, the world-wide-known American activist who was crushed to death in the Gaza Strip by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bulldozer also attended the press conference.
Ramazan Ariturk, an attorney from Elmadag Law Firm, delivered the press statement on behalf of the lawyers who arrived from various countries such as Israel, the USA, the UK, Spain, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Egypt, Belgium, Indonesia, Algeria and Kuwait. Ariturk emphasized that their defense plan will be based on international legal values and principles. Ariturk also stated that their aim is to bring about a brand new outlook on the international judicial conception and to re-establish the rule of law. He added that together with those who believe in the supremacy of law and act with conscience, they will be battling against those who do not recognize the law.
Ramazan Ariturk also noted that their legal battle is in no way against the people of Israel. He said “If it was the people of Israel who were subjected to such injustice, we would still be acting the same way. This gathering is not a gathering-around-hate as some people with bad intentions claim.”
Ariturk said that 19-year-old Furkan Dogan and all other 8 martyrs who lost their lives in the Israeli attack will be defended in the same manner. Ramazan Ariturk stated that lawsuits have been filed in some countries and the final stage have been reached before the launching of the legal cases in some others. Ariturk also mentioned of their efforts to file an international lawsuit and to establish an international commission for investigating the attack on the flotilla.
