Lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, defence counsel for detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has been subjected to escalating judicial harassment in Türkiye, exemplifying the growing repression of legal professionals. Pehlivan’s arrest and ongoing detention are based on vague and politically motivated charges, including “money laundering” and “membership in a criminal organisation.” These charges are rooted in his professional legal defence activities and public criticisms of a controversial higher education report that targeted his client.
His arrest violates Türkiye’s own Attorneyship Law, which requires Ministry of Justice approval before prosecuting lawyers for acts related to their legal work. No such authorisation was granted. Moreover, there is no credible evidence supporting the claims against him. His detention represents a broader pattern of targeting lawyers and bar associations who defend human rights or engage in political cases.
In Türkiye, lawyers have been subjected to oppression for many years, and since early 2025, numerous other lawyers, particularly those associated with İmamoğlu’s legal team, have faced criminal investigations, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation. Courts have denied them access to clients and excluded them from key hearings, raising concerns over fair trial violations and possible enforced disappearances.
These developments are in direct breach of international legal standards protecting the independence of the legal profession and the rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, and association.
We, Rights Defenders Initiative (RDI) urge the international community to condemn these reprisals and support Türkiye’s legal professionals in defending the rule of law. We call on Türkiye to stop the intimidation and politically motivated and arbitrary prosecution of lawyers and their arbitrary detentions.
Refrence:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur44/9571/2025/en/
https://images.app.goo.gl/oRofj79ehggqd6dP9
https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c9w1k0ypk1yo
https://tr.euronews.com/2025/06/19/ekrem-imamoglunun-avukati-mehmet-pehlivan-tutuklandi
