Saraç becomes first female president of Istanbul Bar Association

Lawyer Filiz Saraç has become the İstanbul Bar Association’s first woman president after yesterday’s (October 23) vote.

The Istanbul Bar Association was established in 1878 and is the world’s largest bar association with nearly 57,000 members.

“The İstanbul Bar Association is the symbol of the struggle for rights in its 144-year history. I would like to thank our bar, which gave me the honor of becoming its first woman president as we are about to enter the 100th anniversary of our Republic,” Saraç said in a speech after winning the election.

“Thanks to the achievements of Atatürk and the Republic, I have this honor today. I bow respectfully before him.”

Saraç, the candidate of the Contemporary Lawyers’ Group, was one of the four women candidates. A total of nine candidates competed for the presidency of the bar.