TURKEY: The OIAD strongly condemns the assassination of Turkish lawyer Hatice Kocaefe
7 May 2026
The International Observatory of Lawyers at Risk (OIAD) expresses its deepest concern and outrage following the assassination of Turkish lawyer Hatice Kocaefe, who was killed on 28 April 2026 in Bursa, Türkiye, in a targeted armed attack.
According to information provided by the Istanbul Bar, Ms Kocaefe was murdered by an individual who was the debtor in enforcement proceedings initiated by the lawyer in the course of her professional duties. She was killed solely because she was a lawyer exercising her legitimate functions.
This killing constitutes an extremely serious violation on the legal profession, the right to a defence and the rule of law. Violence against lawyers represents an assault not only against individuals, but against the justice system as a whole.
The OIAD recalls that, in accordance with the United Nations Havana Principles, ‘lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.’ (Principle 18). Targeting lawyers for their professional activities is strictly prohibited under international human rights law and undermines public confidence in judicial institutions.
The Observatory takes note of the solidarity actions initiated by the Istanbul Bar, the Bursa Bar, and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, and expresses its full solidarity with the Turkish legal community in this moment of mourning.
The OIAD calls on the Turkish authorities to:
- Conduct a prompt, independent, and effective investigation into the assassination of Hatice Kocaefe;
- Ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice in accordance with international standards;
- Take immediate and concrete measures to guarantee the safety of lawyers so that they may carry out their professional duties without fear of intimidation or violence.
Finally, the OIAD reiterates the urgent need for Turkey to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Profession of Lawyer, in order to guarantee the protection of lawyers and uphold the rule of law.
