“Terrorism” indictment against Istanbul Bar Association Management

With the statement announced on the official social media account of the Istanbul Bar Association on December 21, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation into the crimes of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "publicly spreading misleading information" for allegedly praising fugitive suspects Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were members of the terrorist organization PKK and were killed in northern Syria. Initially, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had prepared a lawsuit requesting the termination of Kaboğlu and the members of the Board of Directors and the election of new ones in their places.

THE INSTITUTION WAS PREPARED

Within the scope of the terrorism investigation, the prosecutor's office, which obtained permission from the Ministry of Justice to investigate Istanbul Bar Association President Kaboğlu and 10 members in accordance with the Lawyers' Law, then took the statements of the bar association's board of directors as "suspects." After completing its investigation, the prosecutor of the Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau prepared the indictment. The indictment was sent to the nearest high criminal court, Bakırköy.

THE INDICTMENT WAS DRAFTED

In the indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor's Office, Istanbul Bar Association President Kaboğlu and Board Members including Fırat Epözdemir, who was arrested for "making terrorist propaganda", were listed as "suspects". The indictment alleged that the suspects introduced terrorist organization members Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin as journalists in a press release and neutralized the security forces within the scope of the fight against terrorism.

THEY ACTIVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

It was also alleged that the press release in question aimed to legitimize and spread the separatist activities that are the ultimate goal of the terrorist organization. The indictment alleged that the suspects tried to create a perception by misleading the public with false information regarding the internal and external security and public order of the country through the expressions they used in their statements.

UP TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON REQUESTED

It was also alleged that the bar association acted with the motive of creating anxiety, fear or panic among the public by trying to negatively affect the trust in the state institutions and organs. The Bakırköy Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against İbrahim Kaboğlu and 10 board members for the crimes of "Making Terrorist Organization Propaganda Through the Press" and "Publicly Spreading Misleading Information to the Public Through the Press", requesting a prison sentence of 3 to 12 years and a political ban.

BARON'S DEFENSE WAS REQUESTED

The court, which reviewed the file, served the indictment to the Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu and 10 bar members, and requested the bar management to present their defense and evidence if any. The court also noted that the investigation could be deepened if deemed necessary, and that a decision for permission to prosecute would be made based on the file.

IF THE COURT ALLOWS A TRIAL, A "TERRORISM" CASE WILL BE FILED AGAINST THE BAR ASSOCIATION

If the Bakırköy 13th High Criminal Court grants permission for a trial, the file will be sent back to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office will then send the file to the relevant Istanbul High Criminal Court for the trial to be held, and a "terrorism" case will be filed against the Istanbul Bar Association.