The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), alongside global legal and human rights groups, has condemned the Turkish government’s lawsuit and criminal investigation against the Istanbul Bar Association and its leadership. Sparked by the Bar’s call for an independent probe into the deaths of two journalists, the charges—including “terrorist propaganda”—are seen as reprisals for lawful human rights advocacy. The coalition stresses that these actions violate international standards protecting legal professionals’ independence and freedom of expression. They call for the immediate cessation of proceedings, the release of detained board member Fırat Epözdemir, and international pressure to safeguard the rule of law in Türkiye.