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Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu responds to 'smear campaign': He had said 'immutable articles can be touched in a positive sense'

İbrahim Kaboğlu, who was recently elected president of the bar association, addressed the agenda regarding the Constitution's articles in his post-election speech and made remarks that drew backlash. Kaboğlu has now issued a new statement on the matter.

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The newly elected president of the Istanbul Bar Association, İbrahim Kaboğlu, had made remarks that drew backlash in his post-election speech.

In his statement, he referred to the first four articles of the Constitution and said, "Immutable articles can be touched in a positive sense." In the entirety of his speech, Kaboğlu said, "Just as it was done in 1995, just as it was done in 2001, the racist expressions in the preamble were removed in 1995. In the 2001 amendment, the concept of a secular and democratic republic based on Human Rights was added to Article 14, and its definition was made."

Kaboğlu, who faced backlash from many segments of society over his statements, has issued a new statement. In his statement, the Istanbul Bar Association President interpreted the events as a 'smear campaign'.

İbrahim Kaboğlu used the following expressions:

Respected public, dear members of the Istanbul Bar Association,

Following my brief assessment to legal professionals after the Istanbul Bar Association Ordinary General Assembly on the evening of October 20, a smear campaign was launched regarding the first four articles of the Constitution. The technical explanation I made against the untrue rhetoric carried out against me during the election process was pulled into a political context, taken out of context, and misunderstood.

The first three articles are fundamental as the cornerstone of the body of rules that embrace the trio of country, society, and state. Even the proposal of their amendment is impossible. It is neither correct nor well-intentioned to equate my expressions with the declarations of individuals and institutions that are in constant conflict with the founding will.

I am aware of the sensitivity in society regarding this issue, and I am a legal professional who has spent his life resisting the constitutional destruction carried out in the country with this sensitivity, and who has paid prices for this. In this respect, with the responsibility of the duty we have taken over, we will continue to be the clearest defenders of the Constitution, and we will work to solve the problems of the legal profession and make the agenda of young colleagues our own agenda.

Sincerely,

İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu