The Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu, who drew reactions with his constitutional explanation, has taken a step back.

In the Istanbul Bar Association's Ordinary General Assembly, İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu from the Lawyers Group for Change was elected president. After his election, Kaboğlu stated regarding the constitution, "Immutable articles can be positively touched." Kaboğlu's statements about the constitution drew reactions. Following the backlash, Kaboğlu took a step back and made a new statement.

Kaboğlu used the following expressions in his new statement made through his social media account:

"PULLED INTO A POLITICAL CONTEXT, NOT UNDERSTOOD"

After the Istanbul Bar Association's Ordinary General Assembly on the evening of October 20, a smear campaign was launched regarding the first four articles of the Constitution following a brief evaluation I made to legal professionals. My technical explanation against the false statements made about me during the election process has been pulled into a political context, taken out of context, and not understood.

The first three articles are fundamental as the cornerstone of the rules encompassing the country, society, and state triad. Even the proposal to change them is impossible. It is neither correct nor well-intentioned to equate my statements with the declarations of individuals and institutions that are in constant conflict with the founding will. I am aware of the sensitivity in society regarding this issue, and I am a legal professional who has spent my life resisting the constitutional destruction in the country and has paid the price for it. Therefore, with the responsibility of the duty we have taken over, we will continue to be the clearest advocates of the Constitution, work to solve the problems of the legal profession, and prioritize the agenda of young colleagues.

WHAT DID KABOĞLU SAY?

Kaboğlu's controversial statements regarding the constitution were as follows:

"Immutable articles can be positively touched. Just like it was done in 1995 and in 2001. In 1995, the racist phrases in the introductory part were removed. In the 2001 amendment, the definition of 'a secular and democratic republic based on human rights' was added to Article 14. Thus, the concept of 'a state based on human rights' that was foreseen in 1961 re-entered the constitution. In other words, it was taken further. The Constitutional Court has also started to use this concept now."

The words of Istanbul Bar President Kaboğlu were met with reactions from Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.