İbrahim Kaboğlu, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, visited Marmara Prison in Silivri on 3 April and urged Turkey’s Justice and Interior Ministers to visit the prison and listen to the detainees, particularly the students who have been arrested in the ongoing protests. Kaboğlu stressed the need for direct engagement with those affected by the recent wave of arrests, which have sparked widespread protests across the country.
The protests, which have escalated since the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, have been led mainly by students and opposition supporters. These demonstrations, calling for the release of political figures and an end to perceived government authoritarianism, have grown in size. In response to these arrests, students have organised boycotts and public demonstrations, calling for economic pressure on pro-government businesses. Kaboğlu expressed concern about the violence faced by students, particularly during arrests, where excessive force and unlawful practices have been reported.
“I invite the justice and interior ministers to come here, visit Silivri and Metris prisons and talk to the detainees,” Kaboğlu said, stressing the importance of hearing directly from those affected by these actions. He also criticised the use of force by the police, especially against female students, and the unconstitutional detention of political figures such as İmamoğlu.
Kaboğlu further emphasised that the conditions of detention are not legally justified, stressing that the law does not support the detention of students or opposition leaders. He called for the immediate release of all those detained, especially students who should be taking university exams and not in prison.
The ongoing protests and public outcry have highlighted growing frustration with the government’s crackdown on dissent. Kaboğlu’s comments are part of a wider effort to defend the rule of law and ensure that Turkey upholds its constitutional values. “No one in Turkey has the right to act arbitrarily,” Kaboğlu said, calling for an end to unlawful detentions and for government officials to abide by the constitution.
Kaboğlu also criticised the appointment of trustees, highlighting the unconstitutional nature of such appointments and their impact on local democracy. He called for the release of all detainees, including İmamoğlu, and called for immediate action to address the ongoing rights violations in Turkey.
