Istanbul lawyer Fırat Epözdemir, a member of the Istanbul Bar Association’s Board of Directors, has been detained on charges linked to alleged pro-Kurdish activities. The arrest, which has sparked controversy within Turkey’s legal and human rights circles, took place on January 23 at Istanbul Airport as Epözdemir returned from a legal conference in Strasbourg.
Epözdemir appeared before Istanbul’s Criminal Judgeship of Peace today (on January 25), following interrogation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The judge ordered his detention, citing allegations that include membership in the People’s Democratic Congress (HDK), participation in a WhatsApp group, and the presence of photographs associating him with PKK-related symbols.
The Case Against Epözdemir
Prosecutors allege that Epözdemir was listed as a leader in materials linked to HDK, which authorities claim functions as a network supporting the outlawed PKK. A WhatsApp group titled “Diren Cizre,” involving 27 lawyers and previously cleared of charges in 2024, has been resurrected as evidence against him. The group was reportedly used to discuss human rights advocacy during the 2015 conflict in Cizre, a predominantly Kurdish region.
In addition, prosecutors cited a photograph of Epözdemir with a yellow, red, and green flag—colors associated with the PKK—as evidence of his ideological alignment. The prosecution claims these activities are part of a broader effort to mobilize support for PKK/KCK operations in western Turkey.
Epözdemir’s Defense
In court, Epözdemir firmly rejected the allegations, stating: “This investigation is not about my actions but a targeted attack on the Istanbul Bar Association.” He argued that his name appears in investigations due to his role as a human rights lawyer and that his travel abroad has always been legal and related to professional or family matters.
The WhatsApp group in question, he explained, was created to coordinate efforts in documenting human rights violations. He dismissed the accusation surrounding the flag photograph, emphasizing his lifelong opposition to violence: “I have never handled a weapon, nor do I believe in resolving issues through violence.”
Epözdemir also highlighted the number of clients he has interacted with over his 17-year legal career, many of whom have criminal records: “As a lawyer, communicating with clients is part of my job. It is unjust to criminalize these interactions.”
Despite these arguments, the court ruled that new evidence justified overturning a prior dismissal of the WhatsApp group case, leading to Epözdemir’s detention.
Targeting the Istanbul Bar Association
Epözdemir’s arrest comes amid mounting pressure on the Istanbul Bar Association. The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a lawsuit seeking the dismissal of the Bar’s President, İbrahim Kaboğlu, and its Board Members, including Epözdemir. They are accused of disseminating terrorist propaganda and operating beyond their legal mandate.
The lawsuit particularly focuses on the Bar’s December 21 statement regarding the deaths of two journalists, Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, killed in a drone strike in northern Syria. The Bar called for an investigation into their deaths, labeling them a violation of international humanitarian law. Prosecutors allege that the journalists were PKK affiliates and that the Bar’s statement constituted propaganda.
The Bar has denied these allegations, stating that its actions are lawful and in line with constitutional protections. In a public statement, the Association said: “This investigation is an attack on the independence of the legal profession. We will continue to stand for justice and the rule of law.”
Growing Concerns Over Legal Crackdowns
The arrest of Epözdemir and the broader campaign against the Istanbul Bar have intensified concerns over diminishing freedoms in Turkey. Since 2016, more than 1,700 lawyers have been prosecuted, with 700 detained and over 550 sentenced to a total of 3,380 years in prison, according to a report by the Arrested Lawyers Initiative and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute.
Legal professionals and international observers see these actions as part of a wider strategy to stifle dissent. Erinç Sağkan, President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, condemned the detention of Epözdemir as “a direct assault on freedom of expression and the independence of the legal profession.”
“This is not just about one lawyer or one bar association,” Sağkan said at a rally outside the Istanbul Courthouse earlier this month. “This is about the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone in Turkey.”
Categories: Situation in Turkey, Turkey Human Rights Blog, Unjust / Wrongful Convictions