Turkish prosecutors seek up to 12-year prison terms for Istanbul Bar officials

Prosecutors sought up to 12 years in prison for Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and 10 others, alleging terrorist propaganda. The charges stemmed from a social media post. The bar denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations baseless.

Tuesday February 25 2025 04:00 pm

Duvar English

An Istanbul Prosecutor's Office has sought up to 12 years in prison for Istanbul Bar Association President Prof. İbrahim Kaboğlu and ten executive board members on charges of "terrorist propaganda" and "publicly spreading misleading information."

The investigation stemmed from a social media post by the Istanbul Bar Association regarding the deaths of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in Syria.

If the court grants permission for prosecution, the case will be transferred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and opened as a "terrorism" trial.

The indictment, drafted about a month ago, was released ahead of the March 4 hearing of a separate case seeking the removal of Kaboğlu and the board members from office and the election of new members. That case also cited the Attorneyship Law to justify a call for new elections at the Bar Association.

The indictment, which surfaced publicly on Feb. 25, alleged that the bar association’s statement legitimized a "terrorist organization" and disrupted public order.

The prosecution claimed that the statement aimed to "legitimize and promote separatist activities," which it described as the ultimate goal of the terrorist organization.

It also argued that referring to the deceased individuals as “journalists targeted in a conflict zone” encouraged membership in the organization.

Prosecutors further alleged that the statement sought to mislead the public with false information about national and public security, erode trust in state institutions, and incite fear, panic, or anxiety. The indictment claimed that the statement’s viewership on social media indicated its potential to disrupt public peace.

In a Feb. 17 response submitted to the chief prosecutor’s office, the Istanbul Bar Association denied the accusations.

It stated, “No state institution or entity was accused in any way. A text was issued in accordance with Articles 76 and 95 of the Attorneyship Law, defending the rule of law, human rights, and the right to life. These facts clearly show that the allegations in the investigation are baseless.”