Veteran Kaboğlu elected as new Istanbul bar head

Can Bursalı / DUVAR

The Istanbul Bar Association, one of the largest bar associations in the world, on Oct. 20 elected Professor İbrahim Kaboğlu as its new chair, replacing Filiz Saraç.

74-year-old veteran academic Kaboğlu garnered 24.44 percent (7,197) of the votes, followed by Hasan Kılıç who remained at 18.8 percent. 12 candidates were running in the election.

Around 30,000 lawyers cast their votes among around 64,066 registered lawyers in a 2-day-long general congress.

After its 22-year rule, Önce İlke Çağdaş Avukatlar Group lost the office following a split. Two candidates ran from the same group. 

“The era of ideas, solidarity, and action has begun,” Kaboğlu said after his victory, who criticized the previous administration for not raising their voices enough against the Turkish government.

Kaboğlu was also a deputy from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) between 2018 and 2023. He is known for his works on human rights violations and constitution.

The social democrat and left-leaning lawyers' candidate Kaboğlu also commented on the recent debates regarding a new constitution and said, “The immutable articles can be changed in a positive sense.”

“The Istanbul Bar Association won. Change won,” he said in a tweet.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu congratulated Kaboğlu on his victory.

(English version by Alperen Şen)

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