Legal and human rights organizations have called upon a Turkish court to dismiss charges against the Istanbul Bar Association (ISBA) that have sparked significant international concern. The proceedings focus on an incident where the ISBA executive board condemned the alleged killing of Kurdish journalists in a drone strike and called for the release of detained protesters in Istanbul on December 21, 2024. Prosecutors subsequently charged the association’s president and board members with endorsing terrorism and spreading disinformation.
In a joint statement, twelve international organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Commission of Jurists, argued that these charges violate Türkiye’s obligations under international human rights law. The coalition filed an amicus curiae brief with the Istanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court, asserting that the ISBA’s actions fell within its legal mandate to uphold human rights and judicial independence.
The legal pressure on ISBA has included a civil court order to dissolve its current board, further compounding the association’s legal challenges. The Istanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance claimed in March 2025 that the bar association had exceeded its authority. This ruling is pending appeal, as the rights groups stress that such measures represent retaliation against lawful professional conduct.
Türkiye’s utilization of broad anti-terrorism laws and so-called disinformation provisions has drawn criticism from international human rights advocates. Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for Europe noted the prosecution reflects a broader pattern of targeting legal professionals. Thierry Wickers, representing the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, described it as an attack on the independence of the legal profession worldwide.
The coalition underscored that the legal proceedings against the ISBA lack the qualities of legality, necessity, and proportionality as required by international standards. They warned that no reasonable reading of the ISBA’s statement could be construed as inciting violence or endorsing terrorism.
Baroness Helena Kennedy of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute voiced concerns over the implications of this case, calling the prosecution both legally unjustifiable and politically concerning. The organizations collectively emphasized that bar associations must be capable of advocating for legal and human rights issues without the threat of legal reprisal, urging the court to dismiss the charges to uphold the principles of an independent legal profession.