Sir Nicolas Bratza defends European court of human rights
Outgoing president describes some criticism as 'beyond pale' and
reminds states they are primary protectors of human rights Sir
Nicolas Bratza Sir Nicolas Bratza has been the UK's sole
European court of human rights judge for 14 years, and its
president since 2011. Photograph: Patrick Hertzog/AFP/Getty
Images  The view from Sir Nicolas Bratza's vast, curving windows
takes in the skyline of Strasbourg, the European parliament
building and, far below, the river Ill flooding east to join the
Rhine.  Along the riverbank, at the judicial heart of the
continent, there is a scattering of single-person tents –
temporary homes for desperate petitioners to the European court
of human rights (ECHR). A protest by Turks and Kurds parades
outside the court's entrance to denounce Turkey for promoting an
alleged torturer to a senior security post in Istanbul, thereby
flouting ECHR rulings.  For more than 800 million people, the
steel and glass building designed by th