"Independence March Crisis in the Istanbul Bar Association Presidential Election"

A surprising crisis overshadowed the presidential elections of the Istanbul Bar Association for the 2024-2026 term, held at the Haliç Congress Center during the general assembly. During the 126th General Assembly Meeting, some lawyers raised objections to the Chair of the Board, Bahri Bayram Belen, claiming that the National Anthem was not recited at the opening.

LAWYERS PROTESTED

During the meeting, a group of lawyers reacted to Chair Belen, stating that the National Anthem was not recited at the opening. Chair Belen, however, indicated that the National Anthem was recited immediately after the moment of silence. As the protests continued, Belen put the issue of whether the anthem should be recited again to a vote of the general assembly.

NATIONAL ANTHEM RECITED AGAIN

As a result of the voting, the vast majority of participants voted in favor of reciting the National Anthem again. Following this decision, the National Anthem was recited once more, and the tension in the hall came to an end.