The discussion between groups of lawyers at the 128th Ordinary General Assembly of the Istanbul Bar Association turned into a fist fight. The general assembly held at the Haliç Congress Center was suspended for 15 minutes due to the events.
The 128th Ordinary General Assembly of the Istanbul Bar Association, where approximately 70 thousand lawyers are registered, started after the quorum was reached at 13.00.
By voting at the general assembly, the General Assembly Presidency Council, consisting of a chairman, a vice-chairman and two members, was determined. Following the establishment of the council, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu handed over the management of the general assembly to the council.
After Arife Gökkaya Dinç, the presidential candidate of the Independent Lawyers Group, completed her speech, there was tension in the hall. After Dinç's speech, some lawyers unfurled an LGBT+ flag and chanted the slogan "Despite hatred, long live life."
Thereupon, another group of lawyers responded with the slogan "Down with the PKK".
The tension that started between different groups of lawyers quickly grew and turned into a fist fight.
Due to the events, the general assembly activities were suspended for 15 minutes. After the tension calmed down, the meeting continued with the speeches of the presidential candidates.
At the general assembly, the presidential candidate of the Republican Power Union, Prof. Dr. During Ümit Kocasakal's speech, the Turkish flag was unfurled in the hall.
Meanwhile, some participants chanted slogans such as "How happy is the one who says I am a Turk" and "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal".
Following the events, in the announcement made by the General Assembly Presidency, it was stated that the Turkish flag was the common flag of everyone in the hall and asked not to be used during the election process.
Speaking at the opening of the general assembly, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu touched upon the judicial processes carried out regarding the bar association management and the professional problems of lawyers.
Kaboğlu stated that the bar association management faced an investigation and dismissal case shortly after taking office, and drew attention to the duty of bar associations to defend the rule of law.
Recalling the meeting held on March 23, 2025 with the participation of thousands of lawyers, Kaboğlu emphasized the principle of "He who comes with elections, leaves with elections."
Reacting to lawyers being targeted due to their professional activities, Kaboğlu said that the right to defense and the professional independence of lawyers should be protected.
The 128th Ordinary General Assembly of the Istanbul Bar Association, which will determine the management of the 2026-2028 period, will be held at the Haliç Congress Center on 24-25 October.
While activity reports and presidential candidates' speeches will be on the agenda on the first day of the general assembly, elections for the presidency and management bodies will be held on Sunday, October 25.
In addition to the current president İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, Ümit Kocasakal, Hasan Kılıç, Korkut Kanadoğlu, Arife Gökkaya Dinç, Atakan Adem Selanik, Salih Uçar, Metin Üraçin and Gülbeyaz Karadeniz will compete for the presidency.
Voting is planned to start at 09.00 and end at 17.00. In addition to the president of the bar association, management, audit and disciplinary boards and delegates of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations will also be determined in the elections.
