İstanbul Bar Association President Prof Dr İbrahim Kaboğlu and board members appeared at İstanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse on Tuesday over accusations of “terrorist propaganda” and “spreading misleading information” following social media posts about murdered journalists Cîhan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan near Kobani (Kobanê) in northeast Syria by a Turkish drone that directly targeted the vehicle they were travelling in.
The investigation drew sharp criticism, prompting a show of solidarity from Erinç Sağkan, President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), and dozens of bar leaders nationwide, who gathered outside the courthouse.
“This probe violates freedom of expression and undermines the independence of legal institutions,” Sağkan said. “We are here to defend not just Istanbul Bar but the fundamental rights of 85 million citizens.”
Sağkan invoked historical parallels, recalling previous attempts to silence legal advocates. “During military coups, authorities tried to seal the Istanbul Bar’s doors and prosecute its leaders,” he said. “History showed who was condemned then—and it will again.”
Sağkan condemned the legal process, alleging constitutional violations. “The investigation bypassed procedural safeguards. A public announcement was made before formal steps were completed, and authorisation was hastily granted,” he said.
Further stressing their presence was not to legitimise the investigation, Sağkan reiterated, “We reject the process’s legitimacy and are here solely to deliver statements, not as suspects.”
Calling the inquiry a politically motivated attack, Sağkan vowed resilience. “No bar association, no lawyer will cower in the face of such intimidation.”
Bar leaders pledged to defend free speech and judicial independence, committing to closely monitor the investigation as tensions between legal institutions and authorities escalate.
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