The authoritarian Erdoğan administration has removed the İstanbul Bar Association’s board, which was elected by thousands of lawyers in September 2024. The ruling AKP government continues to use the judiciary under its control to dismiss or imprison anyone who opposes it.
Today, the İstanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance ruled to remove İstanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu and all board members from office. The decision was based on their statement regarding the deaths of two journalists in a December airstrike in northern Syria.
Citing Article 77/5 of Turkey’s Attorneyship Law, the court ruled that the board members had acted beyond the bar’s mandate. As a result, their positions were terminated, and new board members must be elected within a month after the ruling becomes final. The decision can be appealed to the regional court within two weeks of its official notification.
In his defense, İstanbul Bar President Kaboğlu stated:
“Our right to a fair trial and to be presumed innocent is being violated. Even in times of war, these rights cannot be infringed.’
After the ruling, Kaboğlu condemned the decision, calling it a pre-planned move and declared:
“I am going to the bar and continuing my duty.”
Following the dismissal of the İstanbul Bar Association’s board, lawyers marched towards the bar’s headquarters on Istiklal Avenue in protest.
As lawyers began marching from the Çağlayan Courthouse to the İstanbul Bar Association, police intervened.
