Professor İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu has argued that the İstanbul Bar Association is failing to adequately defend the right to a fair trial and human rights, which are fundamental constitutional obligations.
Speaking at the 53rd General Meeting of the İstanbul Bar Association on Saturday, Kaboğlu criticised the current leadership for not adequately defending the right to a fair trial and human rights. He emphasised that it is a fundamental duty of legal institutions to protect this constitutional right, which he described as “the foundation of the legitimacy of the state.”
Professor Kaboğlu is a prominent constitutional law scholar and a candidate for the presidency of the İstanbul Bar Association. He is known for his advocacy in defending human rights, constitutional law and the right to a fair trial in Turkey. He has a longstanding reputation as a legal expert, and he has been involved in both academic and public debates concerning constitutional reforms and the rule of law in Turkey.
Kaboğlu highlighted the ongoing erosion of both constitutional and human rights in Turkey. He questioned whether the bar had responded forcefully enough to these pressures, urging a review of the role of the Human Rights Centre, which was established over two decades ago. “The right to a fair trial is one of the most basic human rights, and we are obliged to defend it at all times,” he said.
Another key point in his address was the failure of the bar to support groups like the Saturday Mothers, who have been seeking justice for loved ones who have disappeared. He argued that by remaining silent on such cases, the bar has neglected its societal responsibilities. He called for a more active stance from bar associations in defending not just the rule of law, but also justice and peace within society.
Kaboğlu’s remarks, which were met with applause from many lawyers in attendance, also touched on the broader dissolution of rights and freedoms in Turkey, particularly between 2010 and 2017. He warned that legal institutions must not shy away from their responsibility to defend constitutional rights and human dignity, drawing on the principle of “Peace at home, peace in the world” as a guiding framework.
