Public Statement - The Law Society of Upper Canada expresses grave concern about the harassment of lawyer Simon Lilan in Kenya
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada expresses grave concern about the harassment of lawyer Simon Lilan in Kenya.
It has come to the Law Society's attention that Kenyan lawyer Simon Lilan received death threats and experienced other forms of harassment as a result of his advocacy on behalf of the late Kenyan politician Mark Too.
According to reports, on the belief that his client Mark Too had been assassinated, Simon Lilan sought and obtained an injunction to halt Mr. Too's burial until Mr. Too's body had been examined by independent pathologists. When the injunction was subsequently revoked, Simon Lilan threatened to seek new orders to have the body exhumed. For "[his] stand on the death of Mr. Too", he reportedly received death threats from "powerful people [who] want to finish [him]".1
The harassment appears to have been so severe and the threat to his safety so tangible that Simon Lilan felt compelled to go into hiding on January 9, 2017. When he came out of hiding on January 20, 2017, he explained that he went into hiding after being followed by two vehicles whose "occupants were not up to any good" and after receiving calls from senior politicians who wanted him to drop the case. The police reportedly did nothing when he turned to them for protection. Relatedly, when his office was burgled on January 17, 2017, the local police stated that their preliminary investigations showed no signs of a break-in.2
While in hiding, Simon Lilan sought asylum from foreign embassies and civil rights organizations. His safety and security continue to be at risk.
The Law Society of Upper Canada strongly believes that lawyers should be able to carry out their duties without fear for their lives, liberty and security. In that regard, the Law Society urges the Government of Kenya to comply with Kenya's obligations under international human rights laws, including the United Nations' Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers.
Article 16 of the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers states:
Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economics or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
Article 17 states:
Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.
Article 18 states:
Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions.
The Law Society urges the Government of Kenya to:
- put an end to all acts of harassment against Simon Lilan;
- guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Simon Lilan; and
- ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments.
*The Law Society of Upper Canada is the governing body for more than 50,000 lawyers and 8,000 paralegals in the province of Ontario, Canada. The Treasurer is the head of the Law Society. The mandate of the Law Society is to govern the legal profession in the public interest by upholding the independence, integrity and honour of the legal profession for the purpose of advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law.
The Law Society of Upper Canada
Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N6
www.lsuc.on.ca
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1 Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, "Kenya: Immediately Investigate and Remedy Enforced Disappearance of Lawyer Simon Lilan | Letter" (14 January 2017), online: http://www.lrwc.org/kenya-immediately-investigate-and-remedy-enforced-disappearance-of-lawyer-simon-lilan-letter/#_ftn2.
2 Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, "Kenya: Immediately Investigate and Remedy Enforced Disappearance of Lawyer Simon Lilan | Letter" (14 January 2017), online: http://www.lrwc.org/kenya-immediately-investigate-and-remedy-enforced-disappearance-of-lawyer-simon-lilan-letter/#_ftn2.
SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada
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Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor - Media Relations, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]
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