21.10.2026 19:31
The acquittal verdict in the case where Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and members of its board of directors were tried on charges of terrorist propaganda and publicly disseminating misleading information due to their statements regarding an operation in northern Syria was upheld on appeal. The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice rejected the prosecution's objection on the merits and found the first-instance court's decision lawful.
(ISTANBUL)
A new development has occurred in the case in which President of the Istanbul Bar Association İbrahim Kaboğlu and members of the Board of Directors are being tried on charges of "making terrorist propaganda through the press and media" and "publicly disseminating misleading information through the press and media" due to their statements regarding an operation in northern Syria. The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice rejected on the merits the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's application to overturn the acquittal decision.
The Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court had separately acquitted Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and board members, who were tried in Silivri over statements regarding an operation in northern Syria, on the grounds that "the elements of the crime were not constituted." The decision, taken unanimously at the final hearing on January 9, was taken to appeal by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
THE PROSECUTOR'S APPEAL WAS REJECTED ON THE MERITS
The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice, examining the file, found the first-instance court's acquittal decision lawful. In its decision, the Chamber stated that the court's decision contained no unlawfulness in terms of procedure and substance, that there was no deficiency in the evidence or judicial proceedings, and that the assessment regarding proof was appropriate. The Chamber, not finding the appeal grounds put forward by the public prosecutor justified, decided to reject the appeal on the merits pursuant to Article 280/1-a of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK).
THE DEFENSE DID NOT FALL SILENT, THE LAW SPOKE ONCE AGAIN
Following the appeal decision, the Istanbul Bar Association shared the following assessment:
"This decision, given in the judicial process against the Istanbul Bar Association administration, is also of great importance in terms of bar associations' responsibility to defend human rights, the rule of law and the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law. The fact that bar associations are not only professional organizations but also institutions that assume constitutional and social responsibility for protecting citizens' rights and freedoms has once again come to the fore with this judicial process. The decision also constituted a strong legal basis for discussions on the independence of the defense and the right of bar associations to speak on public issues.
IT ALSO AFFECTS THE DISMISSAL CASE
The fact that the acquittal decision in the criminal proceedings has also passed appeal review is also important for the dismissal case being heard at the Istanbul 2nd Civil Court of First Instance against the Board members, whose appeal review is ongoing. The higher court's finding that the criminal court's assessment that the elements of the crime were not constituted was lawful brings discussions regarding the grounds of the dismissal case back onto the agenda.
This decision is an important threshold not only for a bar association administration, but also for the future of independent defense, freedom of expression and the struggle for the rule of law."