Istanbul Bar President Kaboglu dismissed by court, new elections ordered

The 2nd Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance has ruled for the dismissal of Istanbul Bar Association President Ibrahim Kaboglu and its board members, with a new election to be held for the association’s leadership.

In the hearing, representing the plaintiff Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Prosecutor Mehmet Ates was present alongside Kaboglu, 11 other defendants, and their lawyers. Türkiye Bar Associations Union President Erinc Sagkan, Istanbul Medical Chamber President Dr. Osman Kucukosmanoglu, Judges Union Chair Beyhan Guler, representatives of international legal organizations, some parliamentarians, and numerous attorneys also attended the session.

Defending the bar association in the court, Kaboglu stated that demands for the bar’s closure were unconstitutional. Defendant attorney Firat Epozdemir argued, “The case file does not explicitly define the illegal activity that is claimed to be outside the scope of the association’s function. Mere references to ongoing investigations and files related to Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin are insufficient evidence.”

The court delivered its decision, ordering the removal of Kaboglu and all current board members from their roles and calling for new elections.

Background of the case

The case stemmed from a December 21, 2024, social media post by the official account of the Istanbul Bar Association, which allegedly praised fugitive suspects Nazim Dastan and Cihan Bilgin, who were affiliated with the PKK terrorist organization.

This sparked an ex officio investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Kaboglu and the board members were questioned in early January, and the Justice Ministry later authorized further investigation and prosecution.

The prosecutor’s indictment highlighted that the activities conducted by the Istanbul Bar Association went beyond their legal mandate, citing potential violations of Türkiye’s Attorneyship Law (Law No. 1136).

The petition also stressed the association’s failure to adhere to its founding purpose and justification for administrative measures.

According to Türkiye’s Attorneyship Law, professional associations engaging in activities outside of their objectives may face legal action, potentially resulting in their responsible organs being dismissed and replaced within a month.

The law specifies that such cases must be resolved within a maximum of three months.