Professor İbrahim Kaboğlu has been elected as the new president of the İstanbul Bar Association, receiving 7,219 votes in an election held on Sunday at the Haliç Congress Centre. After 22 years of uninterrupted leadership, Kaboğlu’s victory marks a significant change for the bar, which is widely considered one of the largest in the world. He was supported by the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) and the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD). Celebrations following his win included chants of “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) and “Hak, Hukuk, Adalet” (Rights, Law, Justice) from supporters.
In his victory speech, Kaboğlu stressed the importance of the rule of law and democratic governance, stating, “The law has spoken, and while one candidate has won, in reality, everyone has won. We are committed to upholding the constitutional principles of a democratic, secular, and rights-based state.” He emphasised that his promises were based on fundamental constitutional tenets, including international law and judicial rulings, ensuring a more inclusive leadership.
Kaboğlu reiterated his dedication to the principle of a “social state governed by law,, noting that without the rule of law, the right to a fair trial could not exist. He highlighted the necessity of directing social state policies towards younger legal professionals, ensuring they are guided by constitutional values. Kaboğlu also pledged to advocate for judicial independence and government accountability in future constitutional debates.
Further stressing the need for democratic reform, Kaboğlu reflected on the progress made in Turkey’s constitution in the early 2000s, particularly the reintroduction of concepts such as a rights-based and democratic republic in 2001. He called for these principles to be advanced even further, saying, “We will continue to champion rights, law, and justice together.”
Kaboğlu concluded by expressing his gratitude to all candidates and announced that, starting in İstanbul, the bar would embark on a mission to establish a legal order aligned with international law. He emphasised the importance of collective action, stating that the next steps would involve working alongside the other 11 candidates from the election to achieve their shared goals.
