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IBAHRI’s concern for Istanbul lawyers’ body

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has expressed “deep concern” about a recent criminal investigation and lawsuit against the Istanbul Bar Association, its President İbrahim Kaboğlu, and the executive board. 

It has co-signed a statement calling on Turkish authorities to immediately cease legal proceedings against the Istanbul Bar Association. 

The statement, from several legal and human-rights organisations, also calls on Türkiye to respect its obligations under international law to ensure the independence of the profession and the right to freedom of expression. 

Deaths of journalists 

The actions against the Istanbul organisation stem from a statement it issued on 21 December 2024, drawing attention to the deaths of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, killed on 19 December 2024 in northern Syria while monitoring developments in the region. 

The statement highlighted that the targeting of journalists in conflict zones constituted a violation of international humanitarian law and called for an effective investigation into the incident. 

In response, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation against the Bar’s leadership, citing allegations of 'making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’ and 'publicly disseminating misleading information.' 

Arrest 

On 14 January, the prosecutor’s office filed an action seeking the dismissal of the bar association’s president and executive board, alleging that the statement had exceeded its professional mandate and constituted conduct incompatible with its official role. 

The legal and human-rights groups add that the arrest of lawyer Fırat Epözdemir, an executive board member of the Istanbul body, on 23 January 2025, upon his return from an advocacy visit to Council of Europe institutions, has further deepened its concerns. 

Their statement calls on Türkiye to “immediately cease” all investigations and legal proceedings targeting the Istanbul Bar Association’s leadership, and to release Epözdemir immediately and unconditionally. 

It has called on the EU and UN to express their concerns to Türkiye, and has asked the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to conduct an inquiry into the Turkish authorities’ actions.