The Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris Bar Associations, and UIA-IROL, condemn the ban on Istanbul lawyers from accessing the courthouse

On Sunday, 26 October 2025, a group of individuals – including the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Mr Ekrem İMAMOĞLU – were brought before the Istanbul Courthouse as part of an investigation into allegations of “espionage” against them.

When the lawyers representing the individuals brought before the court arrived at the courthouse to defend their clients, they found that all access to the building was blocked. Security forces informed them that, “in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Istanbul, only three lawyers would be allowed to enter for each suspect.” As a result, most of the lawyers were prevented from entering the courthouse.

The Vice-President and members of the Istanbul Bar Association Council, who arrived on site after being informed of the situation, were also denied entry for the same reasons. Even the bar association staff who came to open the association’s premises and offices inside the courthouse were not allowed to enter.

A report was drafted on-site to serve as the basis for the forthcoming legal proceedings.

The verbal instruction given by the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Istanbul, prohibiting lawyers from accessing their workplace — the courthouses — constitutes a blatant and unacceptable violation of the law and the right to defense.

See Statement