The president of the Van (Wan) Bar Association, Sinan Özaras, told ANF that the intervention against the Istanbul Bar Association — which was targeted solely for fulfilling its duty and taking a clear stance in favor of the rule of law — would remain a dark stain.

In a statement regarding the dismissal of the Istanbul Bar Association president, Professor İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, and the executive board, as well as the ongoing investigations, detentions, and arrests targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Özaras said that the developments in Istanbul are part of a broader political process. "The annulment of diplomas, the detentions, arrests, and the appointment of a trustee to Şişli Municipality are all reflections of what we, as Kurds, have been experiencing in our cities for years — and which are now spreading to the west. What has been done to Ekrem Imamoğlu is entirely unlawful. The appointment of a trustee to Şişli Municipality is a direct violation of the right to elect and be elected. If there is a genuine will to uphold democracy and the rule of law, one of the first legal steps that must be taken is to end the practice of appointing trustees. Unfortunately, the judiciary is being instrumentalized."

The bar association fulfilled its duty

Özaras noted that the Istanbul Bar Association has a 147-year history and continued: "During Turkey’s bombardment of Western Kurdistan (Rojava), two journalists — Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin — were killed. In response to their killing, the Istanbul Bar Association issued a statement concerning human rights and the rule of law. Following this statement, an unlawful investigation was launched. In this investigation, standard procedures and the legal practice of the profession were completely disregarded. As a result, Fırat Epözdemir was arrested. A subsequent case was then filed in the Civil Court of First Instance, seeking the dismissal of the Istanbul Bar Association’s executive board.

A rushed decision was made in a very short time, and the board was removed from office. The legal basis for this lawsuit was the allegation that the bar association had engaged in activities beyond its mandate. However, bar associations and legal professionals have a fundamental duty to protect human rights and freedoms. The Istanbul Bar Association did exactly that. It did not carry out any activity beyond its mission; it acted entirely within its legal and moral responsibilities. The real aim here is to silence bar associations. There is a deliberate effort to suppress their voice."

A dark stain

Özaras underlined that bar associations have always taken a clear and firm stance against injustice and unlawful practices. He stated that the move against the Istanbul Bar Association was an attempt to silence all bar associations through a political coup. He continued: "The stance taken by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, local bar associations, and lawyers as a whole clearly shows that the voice of the defense will never be silenced. Even though there is a court ruling, it is a politically motivated decision that we do not accept. We will continue to be the voice of the Istanbul Bar Association. The Istanbul Bar Association has a clear and principled position. Not even during the military coup periods was such blatant unlawfulness experienced. Bar associations did not remain silent then, and they continued their work. This is a dark stain, and it will remain such."