PUBLIC AI Index: EUR 44/005/2008

3 March 2008

Further Information on UA 40/08 (EUR 44/002/2008, 13 February 2008) Fear for safety

TURKEY Orhan Kemal Cengiz (m), lawyer, human rights defender and newspaper columnist

On 27 February Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a lawyer, human rights defender and newspaper columnist, was provided with a bodyguard by the Ankara Security Directorate. He had been threatened and intimidated because of his legal work on behalf of three men killed in an attack at a Christian publishing house in April 2007.

Amnesty International welcomes the provision of a bodyguard for Orhan Kemal Cengiz, but will continue to call on the authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and thorough investigation into the threats against him. This campaigning will be done through mechanisms other than the Urgent Action network.

Many thanks to all those who sent appeals on behalf of Orhan Kemal Cengiz. He has expressed his gratitude to Amnesty International and to all those who have worked on his case.

No further action is requested from the UA network.