The FBE condemns the ruling of the Second Instanbul Civil Court of First Instance to dismiss Istanbul Bar Association President Ibrahim Kaboglu and its board members, and then to  order a new election to be held for the association’s leadership.

In the hearing, representing the plaintiff Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Mehmet Ates was present alongside Kaboglu, 11 other defendants, and their lawyers. 

The Turkish Bar Associations Union President Erinc Sagkan, Istanbul Medical Chamber President Dr. Osman Kucukosmanoglu, Judges Union Chair Beyhan Guler, representatives of international legal organizations, including the FBE,  some parliamentarians, and numerous attorneys also attended the session.

Defending the bar association in the court, Kaboglu stated that demands for the bar’s closure were unconstitutional. Defendant attorney Firat Epozdemir argued, “The case file does not explicitly define the illegal activity that is claimed to be outside the scope of the association’s function. Mere references to ongoing investigations and files related to Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin are insufficient evidence.”

The FBE is gravely concerned at the lack of constitutional protection for the legal profession and the failure of the court to guarantee the independence of the Istanbul Bar representatives. We call upon the courts to  reconsider the ruling on appeal and to reinstate the President and representatives of the Istanbul Bar forthwith.