Lawyer Rights Group's Istanbul Bar Association Presidential Candidate Prof. Dr. Osman Korkut Became Kanadoğlu

Before the Istanbul Bar Association elections to be held in October, the Lawyer Rights Group held a press conference in the Istanbul Bar Association building and their candidates were presented to Constitutional Lawyer Prof. Dr. He announced that he was Osman Korkut Kanadoğlu.

Lawyer Rights Group Term Spokesperson Turgay Bilge, who made the opening speech at the meeting held yesterday, said that the candidates for the professional and legal struggle that their group has been carrying out since 2016, Prof. Dr. He said that they will take it to a further level with the presidency of Korkut Kanadoğlu.

Drawing attention to Kanadoğlu's "sensitivity towards both the culture inherited from his family and the principles he has defended so far and the basic qualities of the republic through his legal practice", Bilge said: "We believe that the Istanbul Bar Association will be an important force that will bring the profession and the country back to its old days."

'WE WILL SOLVE IT WITH COMMON WILL'

Speaking after Bilge, Kanadoğlu stated that lawyers, who are the essential element, have been reduced to representation and are dealing with many problems, and that there is a need to create a common will that can defend the rights of lawyers and solve their problems.

Stating that they do not see this election as just a presidential election, Kanadoğlu said, "There is a direct connection between the democratic rule of law and strong bar associations. On the one hand, we see the difficulties experienced by lawyers as a professional organization. One of the biggest reasons for this is that the principle of the 'rule of law' remains only on paper. The decisions of the Constitutional Court and the ECHR are not implemented. The struggle to seek justice is faced with obstacles."

'WE WILL ACTIVELY STRUGGLE'

Drawing attention to the detention of lawyers such as Can Atalay, Mehmet Pehlivan and Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Kanadoğlu said, "We will fight for the law in the most active way, we will not leave anyone alone and hopeless."

Stating that the elections remain on paper where the rule of law remains on paper, Kanadoğlu determined that "This situation disrupts the environment in which elected officials can serve and the citizens' faith in democracy."

SENDING 'FOUR ARTICLES' TO KABOĞLU

Referring to the process of a terrorism-free Turkey, Kanadoğlu said, "Ending terrorism and strengthening social peace is something we all want. However, we see that the law remains on paper and that Turkey's secular and unitary structure is wanted to be changed through these discourses."

Underlining that there is a direct link between the democratic state of law and strong bar associations, Istanbul Bar Association President Prof. Dr. Referring to İbrahim Kaboğlu with 'four articles', Kanadoğlu said, "We will ensure the rights of lawyers with a strong bar association. On the other hand, we will not allow those who directly target the founding philosophy of the Republic, nor those who go around saying 'the first four articles can be changed in a positive way'. We will protect the nation state established under the leadership of Atatürk with an anti-imperialist struggle. We will risk every price to defend the rights of lawyers and the founding philosophy of the republic."

'LAWYERS WILL SEE THE TRUTH'

Answering the questions of journalists and lawyers after the statement, Kanadoğlu said that First İlke Çağdaş Lawyers Group, headed by Filiz Saraç, "Atty. Prof. Dr. He also reacted to the statement, "After learning from public posts that Korkut Kanadoğlu was nominated as a presidential candidate by the Lawyer Rights Group, our decision to nominate Kanadoğlu as a candidate was cancelled."

Stating that both the First Principle Contemporary Lawyers Group and the Lawyer Rights Group offered him candidacy, Kanadoğlu continued his words as follows: "After the honorable offer from both groups, it became my wish that the process would proceed as the joint candidate of the two groups, and negotiations began on this issue. Ms. Filiz and her team left the table after a problem that could be solved after understanding on many issues. Afterwards, my efforts to communicate with them to solve the problem were unsuccessful.

Mr. Gökhan Ahi from the Lawyer Rights Group also made an initiative on this issue. Following this development, the Lawyer Rights Group suggested that my candidacy continue. I have never let anyone down in my life. I know that the friends in the First Principle group, whom I value very much and feel a close bond with, will distinguish between what is intended to be conveyed and what is real. "This election will be an election in which the mentalities that engage in factionalism and put themselves at the center will be defeated despite professional and country-wide problems."

KABOĞLU WON

In the election held at the Istanbul Bar Association on October 20, 2024, Prof. was the candidate of the Lawyers for Change Group with 7 thousand 219 votes. Dr. While İbrahim Kaboğlu won, after Kaboğlu, the candidate of the Lawyer's Rise alliance, Atty. Hasan Kılıç came second with 5 thousand 497 votes, and Lawyer Rights Group's candidate was Atty. Turgay Bilge came third with 4 thousand 997 votes.