Strong reaction from the Istanbul Bar Association to the Court of Cassation's Can Atalay ruling: "The President and Members of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation continue to commit crimes!"

In a statement issued following the decision of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, the Istanbul Bar Association stated, "The President and Members of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation continue to commit crimes. This case, in which politicians want to act as referees for the judiciary and judges insist on committing crimes, has once again shown us that without judicial independence and impartiality, there is no Constitution, no law, and no democracy. As the Istanbul Bar Association, we will insist on the rule of law."

The following statements were included in the Istanbul Bar Association's statement:

"Following the first violation ruling by the Constitutional Court regarding Attorney Şerafettin Can ATALAY, the Istanbul Bar Association had filed a criminal complaint with the First Presidency Board of the Court of Cassation for the necessary criminal investigation to be conducted due to the actions of the President and Members of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, which undermine the trust that should be placed in the judiciary and constitute crimes.

Despite the Constitutional Court's second violation ruling dated 21.12.2023, the President and Members of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, despite having no authority over the file and being required to return the file to the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court without taking any action, have issued yet another decision that has no place in our legal system, stating that 'the second violation ruling issued by the Constitutional Court has no legal value, and in this context, there is no ruling that can be implemented within the scope of Article 153/6 of the Constitution.' The President and Members of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation continue to commit crimes. This case, in which politicians want to act as referees for the judiciary and judges insist on committing crimes, has once again shown us that without judicial independence and impartiality, there is no Constitution, no law, and no democracy.

As the Istanbul Bar Association, we will insist on the rule of law."

Istanbul Bar Association President Attorney Filiz Saraç also stated in a post on her personal social media account, "There is stability in the country only when destroying the rule of law! Respect for the Rule of Law."