The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the arrest and detention of Mehmet Pehlivan, the lawyer of imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as a breach of Türkiye’s legal obligations under international human rights law and standards on the independence of the legal profession, as well as the rights to liberty and a fair trial.
On 19 June 2025, Pehlivan was detained by Turkish authorities on charges of “membership in a criminal organization”. The Public Prosecutor alleged that Pehlivan acted within a criminal organization by planning and organizing the legal representation of detained criminal suspects and aiming to obtain statements from the investigating authorities.
“The ICJ emphasizes that the criminal allegations against Pehlivan entail legitimate professional activities inherent to the legal profession and could not form the basis for a legitimate criminal investigation, let alone prosecution”, Temur Shakirov, Director (ad interim) of ICJ’s Europe and Central Asia Programme said. “Pehlivan’s arrest and detention give rise to significant concern about the authorities’ unlawful interference with legitimate legal representation.”
Pehlivan’s arrest is directly linked to his role as legal representative in a politically sensitive corruption investigation against Mayor İmamoğlu, a prominent political figure.
The ICJ recalls that the independence of the legal profession is essential for protecting human rights, ensuring fair trials, and upholding the rule of law. Lawyers must never face intimidation, harassment, or criminal prosecution simply for fulfilling their legitimate professional functions. International human rights law and standards, such as the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, guarantee the independence of the legal profession, prohibit any form of interference with lawyers’ professional duties and ensure their freedom to perform their work without fear of reprisal.
Moreover, Türkiye’s actions appear inconsistent with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Article 14 of the ICCPR and Article 6 of the ECHR enshrine the right to fair trial, including the right to effective and independent legal representation.
The ICJ notes with concern that Pehlivan’s arrest is not an isolated incident but forms part of a wider pattern in which the Turkish authorities have repeatedly targeted lawyers representing clients in politically sensitive cases. Such actions undermine the integrity and independence of Türkiye’s judicial system and erode the rule of law.
The ICJ calls upon Turkish authorities to release Mehmet Pehlivan immediately and unconditionally and to dismiss all charges against him related to his legitimate professional activities. Türkiye must ensure that all lawyers can carry out their functions freely, independently, and without fear of prosecution or retaliation.
