12.10.2025 10:20
During the group meeting of the DEM Party in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the slogans "Biji Serok Apo" sparked a new debate. While the bar associations of 57 provinces issued a joint statement condemning the incident, it was notable that many bar associations, including the Istanbul Bar Association, did not sign the statement.
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During the speech of the Deputy Group Chair of the DEM Party, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, at the group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, slogans of "Biji Serok Apo" were chanted in the hall. Those moments were recorded as a first in the history of the Assembly.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM BAR ASSOCIATIONS
The bar associations of 57 provinces made a joint statement condemning the incident. The statement said, "Images have emerged in the public domain showing slogans in favor of the so-called leader of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, being chanted in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The roof of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which is the heart of democracy, is the manifestation of the will of the nation. Under this roof, no attitude or statement that insults the sacred memory of our thousands of martyrs can be accepted.
A Turkey without terrorism is only possible not just through security policies, but by strengthening the rule of law, democratic social order, and a culture of peace. A state of law that derives its true power from the Constitution, that is, from the common will of the nation; considers differences as richness and justice as the highest value. With this understanding, we once again emphasize that we will steadfastly continue our commitment to the universal principles of law and justice in pursuit of a peaceful, free, and secure society," the statement included. The following bar associations published the declaration:
ISTANBUL BAR IS AMONG THOSE WHO DID NOT SIGN
The bar associations of Adıyaman, Ağrı, Ankara, Ardahan, Batman, Bingöl, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hakkâri, Hatay, Iğdır, Istanbul, İzmir, Karaman, Kars, Kocaeli, Mardin, Muş, Şanlıurfa, Siirt, Şırnak, Tunceli, and Van did not sign the declaration.
Following the statement from the 57 provinces' bar associations, the Hatay Bar reacted to the slogan with a separate statement.
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