Trial begins for Istanbul Bar Association President and board members

The trial regarding the request to terminate the duties of Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu and board members Rukiye Leyla Süren, Hürrem Sönmez, Ahmet Ergin, Metin İriz, Mehmedali Barış Beşli, Yelda Koçak Urfa, Fırat Epözdemir, Ezgi Şahin Yalvarıcı, Ekrem Bilen Selimoğlu, and Bengisu Kadı Çavdar, and to elect a new administration, has begun. Some of the defendants, including İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, were present alongside their lawyers at the hearing held at the Istanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance.

Speaking at the hearing, Kaboğlu stated, "Bar associations operate through decision-making bodies determined by their own elections. Bar associations are the guardians of the rule of law. When constitutional freedoms are considered according to their legal nature, there are contradictions with the Constitution. Professional activities require the fulfillment of public service."

In court, some of the defense lawyers requested that the preliminary hearing be adjourned, arguing that the case had not yet reached the merits stage and that the conditions for the lawsuit had not yet been met.

Announcing its interim decision, the court ruled to determine whether the request for the dismissal of the bar association's board of directors was justified. The court, which did not encourage the parties to settle due to the nature of the case, decided to establish a connection via SEGBİS for the detained board member Fırat Epözdemir for the next session. Accepting the Union of Turkish Bar Associations' request to intervene, the court rejected the requests of other parties and adjourned the hearing to March 21.