Brussels, April 15, 2025 — The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), representing over one million lawyers across 46 countries, has strongly condemned the arrest and alleged inhumane treatment of prominent Bangladeshi lawyer Barrister Turin Afroz. In a formal letter addressed to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, the organization expressed grave concern over what it described as a targeted attack on the legal profession.
Barrister Afroz, a former prosecutor at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), was reportedly arrested from her Dhaka residence during the night of April 7. The CCBE also highlighted a previous incident in August 2024, when she was brutally assaulted by unknown assailants. The group believes both the arrest and the attack were reprisals for her role in prosecuting war crimes linked to the country’s 1971 Liberation War.
“These acts are reportedly understood to be a direct reprisal for her professional work,” the CCBE stated in the letter. It called on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Barrister Afroz and to ensure her safety and well-being.
The letter also contextualized the incident within a broader climate of escalating repression against the legal community in Bangladesh. Reports of violence, harassment, arbitrary detentions, and even killings of lawyers have raised alarm bells among international human rights organizations. The CCBE noted that it had sent multiple letters in recent months urging the Bangladeshi government to uphold the rule of law and protect legal professionals.
The organization invoked the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, particularly those guaranteeing lawyers’ independence and freedom from intimidation or harassment.
“The integrity of the legal profession is a cornerstone of democracy and justice,” said Thierry Wickers, President of the CCBE, in the letter. “All lawyers must be able to carry out their duties without fear of reprisal. This is non-negotiable in any society that values the rule of law.”
The CCBE urged the Bangladeshi government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation into the assault on Barrister Afroz and to bring those responsible to justice.
This latest development places added international scrutiny on the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, as it navigates a highly sensitive political transition. Human rights observers are closely watching how the new administration responds to allegations of legal repression and whether it will take concrete steps to restore public trust in justice and governance.