International Legal and Human Rights Community Condemns Moves to Undermine the Independence of Lawyers and the Rule of Law
The escalating attacks by Turkish authorities on the Istanbul Bar Association, its leadership, and members of the legal profession are an affront to the independence of the legal profession and the rule of law, an international coalition of lawyers, bar associations and human rights organizations warned today.
Removal of Elected Leadership
On 21 March 2025, the Istanbul 2nd Assize Court issued a ruling to remove the elected leadership of the Istanbul Bar Association under Article 77/5 of the Attorneyship Law. The decision mandates the dismissal of the Bar’s president and executive board and orders new elections. This move undermines the independence of the legal profession and makes a mockery of the fundamental principles of justice and the rule of law in Türkiye.
Criminal Proceedings Against Bar Leadership
In parallel, Istanbul Bar President ?brahim Kabo?lu and ten executive board members have been charged with “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation through the press” and “publicly disseminating misleading information,” with the prosecution seeking up to 12 years’ imprisonment and political bans.
These charges and the related civil proceedings stem directly from a public statement issued by the Bar regarding the killing of two journalists, Naz?m Da?tan and Cihan Bilgin, in Syria in December 2024, and calling for an independent investigation into their deaths. That a professional association is now facing criminal prosecution for such a principled, rights-based intervention illustrates the severe restrictions faced by legal professionals in Türkiye who engage in human rights advocacy.
Arbitrary Detention of Board Member
The arbitrary detention of Istanbul Bar board member F?rat Epözdemir further exemplifies the judicial harassment targeting the Bar’s leadership. Arrested on 23 January 2025, after returning from an advocacy visit to the Council of Europe, Epözdemir has been charged with alleged “membership in a terrorist organisation” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organisation” under an indictment dated 8 April 2025. His continued detention and prosecution reflect an intensifying crackdown on legal professionals in Türkiye who challenge state policies and defend human rights.
Escalating Attacks on Lawyers Amidst March 2025 Protests
Since the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem ?mamo?lu on 19 March 2025, Türkiye has witnessed widespread protests and the detention of hundreds of people across the country. Lawyers responding to these mass arrests to provide legal assistance have themselves become targets of repression. In ?zmir and ?stanbul, a number of lawyers were arrested while attempting to support detained protesters, including the former Chair of the ?zmir Bar Association, Özkan Yücel, who was detained in an early morning raid on his home. On 28 March 2025, Mehmet Pehlivan, a lawyer representing Ekrem ?mamo?lu was also arrested and later released under a judicial control order.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/14/turkiye-attacks-legal-profession-unacceptable
