Lawsuit demands dismissal of Istanbul Bar Association head Kaboglu over terrorism propaganda
Istanbul Bar Association President Ibrahim Kaboglu (2-R) and members of the Board of Directors come to the prosecutor's office to testify within the scope of the investigation, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 7, 2025. (AA Photo)
A lawsuit has been filed demanding the dismissal of Istanbul Bar Association President Ibrahim Kaboglu and board members, calling for the election of a new management team as part of an ongoing investigation.
Claims of war crimes fuel investigation
The investigation, initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, stems from a statement made by the Bar Association’s official social media account on Dec. 21, 2024. In the statement, the Bar Association accused Türkiye of committing war crimes, prompting the investigation.
The statement praised fugitive suspects Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin, both members of the PKK terrorist group. The investigation focuses on charges of “terrorist organization propaganda” and “disseminating misleading information to the public.”
Meanwhile, the Bar Association’s statement accused Türkiye of committing war crimes following the deaths of Dastan and Bilgin in Syria. The statement also included claims about the individuals’ so-called journalistic activities and misrepresented their deaths.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, has waged a 40-year terror campaign against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly. The YPG is the PKK’s affiliate in Syria.
Istanbul Bar Association faces scrutiny
As part of the investigation, permission has been requested from the Ministry of Justice to proceed with prosecution against Kaboglu and the board members. Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed at the Istanbul Civil Court under Article 1136 of the Attorneyship Law.
The lawsuit seeks the dismissal of Kaboglu and board members, including Rukiye Leyla Suren, Hurrem Sonmez, Ahmet Ergin, Metin Iriz, Mehmedali Baris Besli, Yelda Kocak Urfa, Firat Epozdemir, Ezgi Sahin Yalvarici, Ekrem Bilen Selimoglu, and Bengisu Kadi Cavdar, calling for the election of a new Bar Association president and board members.
Kaboglu and the board members were interrogated by the prosecutor’s office on January 7 as part of the investigation.
