Istanbul Bar Association rejects pressures to dismiss executive board at extraordinary congress

Istanbul Bar Association held an extraordinary congress to stand behind its current board, rejecting the lawsuit filled by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor requesting for dismissal of its board and new elections.

Monday February 24 2025 01:22 am

Can Bursalı / Gazete Duvar

The Istanbul Bar Association on Feb. 23 convened an extraordinary congress following a lawsuit filed by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor demanding the dismissal of its president and 10 board members and the organization of new elections.

No elections were held at the congress, and strong support for the board was expressed. The extraordinary congress was attended by all candidates who ran in the last elections organized in October 2024. All the other lawyer groups who competed in the elections also attended to congress and showed their support.

The congress, held at the Haliç Congress Center, was attended by the President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, Erinç Sağkan, bar association presidents from across Turkey, numerous lawyers, political party representatives, and legal professionals from various countries.

During the congress, a call for the release of Istanbul Bar Association board member Fırat Epözdemir, who was arrested as part of an ongoing "terrorism" investigation, was made. His seat was left empty on the stage with a placard that read, "Freedom to Lawyer Fırat Epözdemir!"

Speaking at the congress, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu emphasized their commitment to the rule of law and the constitution, stating, "For the past two months in Turkey, there has been a rehearsal on how to dismantle the legal defense system through judicial manipulation. Our 11-member board is incomplete, as one of our members has been deprived of his freedom based on fabricated evidence."

Kaboğlu also reminded attendees that Can Atalay, who remains imprisoned despite being elected as a member of parliament, has been also a member of the Istanbul Bar Association. His remarks received strong applause from the audience.

The President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, Sağkan, invoked the memory of recently dismissed military officers and murdered Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tahir Elçi, which was met with an ovation.

Sağkan stated that lawyers derive their strength from the people, not from authority," and stressed, "We do not submit, we do not bow down."

He added, "The legal defense will not be silenced."

What happened?

The lawsuit calling for the dismissal of the Istanbul Bar Association’s board and the organization of new elections was filed following a press statement the association made in response to the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Syria on Dec. 21, 2024.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an indictment demanding the appointment of a new board using "terrorism" charges. The Istanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance set the trial date for March 4.

On Jan. 15, the Bar Association held a meeting, with the participation of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, where the decision to hold an extraordinary general assembly was made.