Facing a Criminal Case in Türkiye

What does a criminal case in Türkiye actually involve?

A criminal matter in Türkiye runs in two broad phases. First comes the investigation (soruşturma), led by a public prosecutor (savcı) with the police or gendarmerie. At this stage the authorities gather evidence, take statements and decide whether there is enough to bring a case. Being investigated does not mean you have been found guilty — it means the facts are still being examined.

If the prosecutor believes there is enough evidence, they prepare an indictment (iddianame) and send it to the court. Once a court accepts it, the matter moves into the prosecution or trial phase (kovuşturma), where a judge or panel hears the evidence and reaches a judgment. A decision is usually not the end of the road: there are routes to appeal, first to the regional courts (istinaf) and, in defined situations, to a higher court (temyiz).

The whole system sits on two main laws: the Turkish Penal Code (TCK, Law No. 5237), which defines offences, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK, Law No. 5271), which sets out how a case must be handled and what rights you have along the way. Every case turns on its own facts, so this page is general information, not legal advice.

Why do foreigners and dual nationals end up in a Turkish criminal case?

People contact us in very different situations — many of them unexpected, and many where the person is later cleared. Common ones include:

• An accusation or complaintSomeone has filed a complaint (şikayet) — over a dispute, a business deal, an incident on a trip — and a prosecutor has opened an investigation.
• A statement requestYou have been asked to attend and give a statement (ifade) as a suspect, sometimes by phone, letter or a knock at the door.
• A search or seizurePolice have carried out a search (arama) or taken items, documents or a phone (el koyma) in connection with an investigation.
• A wanted or arrest recordYou have learned there is a wanted or arrest record against you — see wanted records (GBT) — perhaps discovered while travelling.
• Custody or detentionYou or a family member has been taken into police custody and asked for a statement, and you need a lawyer now.
• An ongoing case from abroadYou left Türkiye and only later learned a case is open, or you are a Turk abroad and a relative is facing proceedings at home.

What rights do you have throughout the process?

Turkish criminal procedure gives a suspect and a defendant clear rights, and they apply just as much to foreigners and dual nationals as to anyone else. Knowing them is half the battle.

The right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about the allegation, and silence cannot be treated as guilt. The right to a lawyer. You can have a lawyer with you when you give a statement and throughout the case; if you cannot arrange one, ask about appointed counsel. The right to be informed. You are entitled to be told, in general terms, what you are suspected of, so you are not answering questions in the dark.

The right to an interpreter. If you do not speak Turkish well enough to follow proceedings, you have the right to a state interpreter during official steps such as your statement and hearings — this right is separate from, and not replaced by, any private language help. The right to have someone notified. In custody, you can usually have a relative or a person you choose informed; foreign nationals can ask for their consulate to be told. Procedural details and any time limits are set by law and depend on the situation — a lawyer can confirm what applies to you.

What to do — and what not to do

How does a criminal case move from start to finish?

• Investigation (soruşturma)A prosecutor, with the police or gendarmerie, gathers evidence and takes statements. This is where searches, seizures and your first statement (ifade) usually happen — and where early legal help has the most room to act.
• Custody or release decisionIn some cases a person is held in police custody and brought before a judge, who decides on arrest and remand or on release, sometimes with conditions. See remand and bail for how this stage works.
• Indictment (iddianame)If the prosecutor finds enough evidence, they prepare an indictment and send it to the court. If not, the investigation can end without a case being brought.
• Trial / prosecution (kovuşturma)Once the court accepts the indictment, hearings begin. Evidence is examined, witnesses may be heard, and the defence presents its case before a judge or panel.
• JudgmentThe court reaches a decision. This is not always the final word — the law provides routes to challenge it.
• Appeal (istinaf, then temyiz)A decision can be taken to the regional appeal courts (istinaf) and, in defined situations, to a higher court (temyiz), within the limits the law sets.

The early hours and days matter most. Decisions made — or statements given — at the investigation stage can shape everything that follows, which is why getting a lawyer involved early can be so important.

Who do we help?

• Foreign travellers and tourists who became caught up in an incident or dispute while in Türkiye
• Foreign residents and expats facing an investigation or court case where they live and work
• Dual nationals (Turkish and another citizenship) who did not expect to face proceedings in Türkiye
• Turks living abroad who have learned of an open case or a record at home
• Family members and friends acting urgently for someone in custody or unable to act for themselves
• Business people and visitors facing a complaint arising from a deal, contract or commercial dispute

How we help

1. 1
   AssessWe listen, work out which stage your matter is at — investigation, indictment, trial or appeal — and explain in plain English what it means and what realistically comes next.
2. 2
   ActWe advise you before you give any statement, attend with you, and make the right submissions to the prosecutor or court. Where there are grounds, we challenge evidence, decisions and how the procedure was followed, and we seek your release or relief where the law allows.
3. 3
   AttendWe appear with you at the police station, the prosecutor's office and in court hearings, so you are never facing the process alone or in a language you do not command.
4. 4
   Follow upWe keep you informed in writing in your own language, deal with documents and deadlines, and pursue appeals (istinaf, then temyiz) where there are grounds.

Independent İstanbul Barosu attorneys. Fees explained and agreed before any work begins.

Frequently asked questions