On 4 September 2026, we awarded the Konrad Redeker Prize for the Rule of Law, Integrity and Resilience to Prof. İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, President of the Istanbul Bar Association and a constitutional law expert.
In his home country, Turkey, Prof. Kaboğlu continues to champion the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary, even under the most difficult conditions. Together with his colleagues, he has faced hostility and been subjected to criminal investigations as a result. Prof. Kaboğlu has not – and will not – be deterred from speaking out in defence of the freedom of the legal profession and an independent administration of justice.
His acquittal in a high‑profile criminal trial in early 2026 sent an important signal – not least to the European legal profession, which had closely followed the trial and shown its solidarity with the Turkish legal profession.
“Prof. Kaboğlu embodies in a special way the values that this award stands for: the rule of law, integrity and resilience. His steadfast commitment to the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary deserves the highest recognition,” says Dr Ulrich Karpenstein, a partner at our law firm, in praise of the award winner’s selection.
The opening address was delivered by Dr Ulrich Karpenstein. The laudatory speech in honour of Prof. Kaboğlu was given by Prof. Dr Angelika Nußberger, former Vice‑President of the European Court of Human Rights. Following the award ceremony, the laureate himself addressed the audience.
You can find the speeches here:
Opening address by Dr Ulrich Karpenstein