An investigation by Turkish authorities into the Istanbul Bar Association has drawn sharp criticism from legal professionals and human rights defenders. The move has been described as a serious threat to the independence of legal institutions, the presumption of innocence and freedom of expression, with lawyers rallying in solidarity with the Bar Association.
Kurdish journalists Nazım Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin were killed near Kobani (Kobanê) in northeast Syria by a Turkish drone that directly targeted the vehicle they were travelling in. The Istanbul Bar Association criticised the targeted killing of the journalists and emphasised international law.
The controversy stems from the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office’s actions against the Istanbul Bar Association, including accusations against journalists and criticism of its defence of international humanitarian law. Lawyers in Solidarity, a collective of legal professionals, issued a statement condemning the investigation as politically motivated and inconsistent with legal principles.
The case against Istanbul Bar Association relies on charges against the slain journalist Nazım Daştan, even though he was acquitted of all terrorism-related charges by the Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court. The court’s final decision stated that Daştan’s social media posts did not promote violence or terrorist activities and were shared as part of his “journalistic reflex”. Despite this acquittal, the prosecutor has labelled Daştan a terrorist.
Bilgin, who is also mentioned in the Prosecutors’ charges, remains under investigation without charge. Lawyers stress that the presumption of innocence is being violated, reflecting a shift towards ‘enemy criminal law’ rather than the rule of law.
The statement calls for an immediate end to the investigation and reaffirms solidarity with the Istanbul Bar Association and the wider struggle for judicial independence and freedom of expression. The group also stresses the importance of protecting journalists under international law in order to maintain democratic transparency and uphold human rights.
