Administrative Board of Union of Turkish Bar Associations calls on its Chair to resign

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Asude Şenol, Filiz Saraç, Hüseyin Özbek and Sabri Çepik, who are members of the Administrative Board of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), have called on TBB Chair Metin Feyzioğlu to resign.

Sharing the joint statement on her Twitter account, Filiz Saraç has argued that Feyzioğlu "has drifted apart from the bar associations and the ones who elected him, suffered from a loss of trust and given up representing the ones who elected him." Accordingly, Saraç has noted that "the best course of action to be taken by Feyzioğlu in this context would be to resign."

'The strongest reaction needs to be shown'

In the joint statement of the TBB Administrative Board members, it has also been indicated that the planned amendments to the Attorneys' Act and, thus, to the structure and organization of the bar associations across the country would mean a "divide an rule formula."

It has been stressed that the planned changes "will further harm the impartiality and independence of the judiciary, which has already been its biggest problem, render bar associations dependent and ineffective and destroy the citizens' right to defense as well as the profession of defense."

Accordingly, the statement has underlined that "the strongest reaction needs to be shown against this legislative proposal."

'His attitude was unacceptable'

The statement of the Administrative Board members has also referred to the "Defense March" of Bar Association Chairs on June 19-24.

Criticizing the stance of Metin Feyzioğlu towards the "Defense March," the statement has indicated that TBB Chair Feyzioğlu "should have - at least - welcomed the bar association chairs at the entrance of Ankara and supported their honorable struggle."

Referring to his remarks about the march, the statement has argued that with his remarks, Feyzioğlu "intended to ensure that what was done would go unnoticed." The statement has referred to this attitude as "unacceptable."

"He did not stand with our bar association chairs in the problematic process which was suffered by our bar association chairs and rightly caused a public outrage among both the whole public and our colleagues throughout these two days," the statement has read further.

Reminding the public that the bar association chairs protested Feyzioğlu by turning their backs to him when he tried to visit them at the entrance of Ankara, the statement has reiterated that the TBB Chair "has drifted apart from the bar associations and the ones who elected him, suffered from a loss of trust and given up representing the ones who elected him."

Accordingly, the statement has noted that "the best course of action to be taken by Feyzioğlu in this context would be to resign so that he will not stand in the way of the struggle of bars and lawyers against the law draft."

What happened?

Protesting the amendments planned to be introduced to the Attorneys' Act by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and allying Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the chairs of several bar associations of Turkey started a march to the capital city of Ankara on June 19.

However, on June 21, they were blocked at the entrance of Ankara, where they had to spend the night behind police barricades and under heavy rain. Bar chairs were kept waiting there for 26 hours.

After former Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Chair Önder Sav met with Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and the bar chairs announced that "they would call on all lawyers across Turkey to come to Ankara," they were allowed to enter the city on June 23 and ended the march.

The amendment in question reportedly foresees that a province can have more than one bar association, which is currently not the case.

The attitude of Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Chair Metin Feyzioğlu especially sparked reactions among the lawyers and bar chairs.

Having not participated in the "Defense March" of bar chairs and being protested by them when they visited them in Ankara, Feyzioğlu said afterwards, "There is nothing that requires my resignation. It is not about me. I am not a lawmaker." (HA/SD)