Istanbul Court Acquits Bar Association Leaders of Terror Charges

A court in Istanbul has acquitted the president and executive board members of the Istanbul Bar Association (IBA) of terrorism-related charges. This ruling, delivered on Friday, represents a significant development amid ongoing criticism of Türkiye’s use of criminal law against legal professionals and associations.

The case stemmed from a public statement issued by the IBA in December 2024, which addressed the killing of two journalists in northern Syria. The statement also referred to the detention of journalists and lawyers during a peaceful protest in Istanbul related to these events. Prosecutors accused the IBA of “spreading terrorist propaganda” and “disseminating misleading information,” citing provisions from Türkiye’s anti-terrorism and penal code.

Acquittal Viewed as a Positive Step

Following hearings at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26 earlier this week, all eleven members of the association’s elected leadership were acquitted on both charges. This decision has been welcomed by various human rights and legal organizations, who had warned that the prosecution was an inappropriate use of counter-terrorism legislation and an unlawful interference with the independence of the legal profession.

These organizations argued that the IBA acted within its statutory mandate to address human rights and rule of law concerns. They contended that criminalizing such expressions violates international legal standards that protect freedom of expression and association.

International observers, including UN experts, have consistently highlighted the misuse of counter-terrorism and misinformation laws to target legal professionals for their advocacy and representation of clients. These practices, they argue, can undermine the right to a fair trial and threaten the independence of the judiciary.

Concerns About Ongoing Pressures

While the acquittal is seen as a positive step, human rights groups caution that structural reforms are essential to prevent similar prosecutions in the future. They have called on Turkish authorities to cease parallel civil proceedings targeting the IBA’s leadership. Additionally, they urged for measures to ensure the independence and self-governance of bar associations and to align domestic law with international standards governing the legal profession.

UN human rights experts have expressed alarm over the continued application of Türkiye’s counter-terrorism framework against lawyers and human rights defenders in other cases. They have cited instances of prosecutions based on professional activities and long prison sentences, raising concerns about the broader implications for legal advocacy in the country.

As the legal landscape in Türkiye continues to evolve, the recent acquittal serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by legal professionals in their fight for independence and the protection of human rights.