Call to the Istanbul Bar Association from İmamoğlu's lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan: 'My faith has not been shaken, you will repel this'

In his letter, which conveyed a message of unity to lawyers, Pehlivan emphasized that attacks on the defense are not new but have increased recently, writing the following:

“To All My Colleagues,

I would have loved to be among you, to look into your eyes and breathe the same air in the same hall. Unfortunately, due to my imprisonment, I cannot attend this meeting. But know that even from where I am, our hearts beat for the same purpose and carry the burden of the same responsibility.

That is precisely why our duty today is to remember not our differences, but our common denominator: the right to defense. When we are united, we are invincible; when our voices join together, they cannot be silenced. Even though I am here behind iron bars, my faith in you and my determination to struggle have not been shaken.

I am not the first lawyer to be arrested in this manner. Attacks on the defense existed yesterday, and they exist today. We see that for all authorities, every power targets the defense first. If we remain silent, more of our colleagues will face the same fate tomorrow. But for me to be the last, for this chain to be broken, we must grow the struggle together and raise our voices louder.

Come, let us stand shoulder to shoulder to defend the defense. Come, let us protect the honor of justice together. Because in spite of those who want to silence the defense, we will shout for rights and justice under any circumstances. And know that this will will overcome barricades, repel oppression, and turn the defense back into the bulwark of freedom.

I believe that the Istanbul Bar Association, with the will it draws from its deep-rooted history and organized power, will render these attacks futile and repel the pressures directed at the defense.

With my feelings of love and solidarity,

Imprisoned Lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan

Çorlu High-Security Prison”