The İstanbul Bar Association convened an emergency general assembly on Sunday at the Haliç Congress Centre in response to a lawsuit demanding the dismissal of its President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and 10 board members. The legal challenge, which calls for their removal and new elections, has sparked concerns over judicial independence in Turkey.
During the gathering, attended by hundreds of lawyers, banners reading ‘İstanbul Bar Will Not Be Silenced’ and ‘Defending Defence is a Historic Responsibility’ were displayed. No opposing candidates were nominated against the current leadership, which took office on 20 October.
Bar President Kaboğlu strongly criticised increasing government pressure on the legal profession, stating, “For the past two months, the judiciary has been used to stage a rehearsal on how to dismantle the defence. Our 11-member board has been undermined, and fabricated evidence has been used to detain one of our members, Fırat Epözdemir.” He also condemned the continued imprisonment of lawyer and elected MP Can Atalay.
Turkey Bar Association head Erinç Sağkan echoed Kaboğlu’s concerns, vowing to resist political interference in legal matters. Referring to past attacks on lawyers, including the assassination of Diyarbakır (Amed) Bar Association President Tahir Elçi, he declared, “We do not bow. Our strength comes from the people, not power. The defence will not be silenced.”
The congress concluded with calls for judicial independence and the release of detained lawyers.
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