Giving a Statement (İfade) or Under Investigation in Türkiye

What does giving a statement (ifade) and being under investigation (soruşturma) mean?

A statement (ifade) is your formal account, taken and written down by the police or by a prosecutor (savcı) as part of an investigation. An investigation (soruşturma) is the first, pre-court phase of a criminal matter: authorities look into an allegation, gather information, and take statements before any decision is made on whether to bring a case. It is different from the later court phase, the prosecution (kovuşturma), which only happens if the matter goes forward. Both phases are governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK, Law No. 5271), with the offences themselves defined in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK, Law No. 5237).

The reason the statement matters so much is that it is often the first fixed account of events — and it can be hard to undo later. That is exactly why the law gives you the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer around it. Being asked to give a statement does not mean you have done anything wrong; many people who give statements are witnesses, or are later cleared. But because a statement can be so consequential, it deserves care.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts, and the right course depends on exactly what you are facing — so speak to a lawyer about your situation.

When are you asked to give a statement?

People reach us in very different situations — many unexpected, and many where the person is a witness or is later cleared. Common ones include:

• Summoned to attendYou received a call, a note or a summons (davet / çağrı) asking you to attend a police station or a prosecutor's office to give a statement.
• At the airport (IST / SAW)You were asked to give a statement during a stop at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen, sometimes in a back room, before you understood why.
• Named as a suspect (şüpheli)You were told an allegation or complaint has been made and that you are being looked at as a suspect in an investigation.
• Asked as a witness (tanık)You are being asked about something you saw or know — but the line between witness and suspect can shift, which is why advice matters.
• Alongside custody or a searchA statement was sought around the time you were taken into police custody or your phone or property was searched or seized.
• For someone abroad or a family memberA relative has been asked to give a statement, or you are outside Türkiye and have learned an investigation names you.

Suspect (şüpheli) or witness (tanık) — why does it matter?

In an investigation, the capacity you are heard in matters. A suspect (şüpheli) is a person the investigation is looking at over an allegation; a witness (tanık) is a person asked about what they saw or know. The rights and expectations attached to each are not the same, and — importantly — a person's position can change during questioning: someone who came in believing they were a witness can find the questions turning toward them.

The practical difference is real. A witness is generally expected to attend and to answer questions truthfully — with one key exception: a witness can decline to answer a question that would risk incriminating themselves or a close relative. A suspect, by contrast, has a broader right to stay silent about the allegation, and that silence cannot lawfully be treated as guilt. Because the label can be unclear and can shift, this is one of the clearest reasons to have a lawyer involved early: a lawyer can help you understand which capacity you are actually being heard in, what that means for you, and how to protect your position either way. If you are unsure whether you are a suspect or a witness, treat that uncertainty itself as a reason to get advice before you answer.

What are your rights when giving a statement?

You have real, usable rights around a statement, and they apply to foreigners and dual nationals just as they do to anyone else. Knowing them changes how the moment goes.

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 (avukat) — advising you beforehand and present while you give your statement; in certain situations a lawyer is provided. The right to know the allegation. You can be told, in general terms, what you are suspected of, so you are not answering in the dark.

The right to an interpreter. If you do not follow Turkish well, you can ask for a state interpreter for the statement and any documents. The right to read and to correct. The statement is written up; you can read it (or have it read to you), ask for corrections, and note anything you dispute before signing — and you should not sign what you have not read or do not understand. The precise scope of each right and any time limits are set by law and depend on the situation, so a lawyer can confirm exactly what applies to you.

What to do — and what not to do

How does a criminal investigation usually unfold?

• An allegation or complaintAn investigation (soruşturma) begins when authorities receive a complaint or come across information suggesting an offence. This phase is generally confidential.
• Statements are takenThe police or the prosecutor (savcı) take statements (ifade) from those involved — suspects and witnesses. This is the moment where your right to silence and to a lawyer matters most.
• The prosecutor decidesWhen the investigation is complete, the prosecutor decides whether to take the matter forward. This can end in a decision not to prosecute (kovuşturmaya yer olmadığına dair karar) or in an indictment.
• If it goes forward — prosecutionIf an indictment is accepted, the matter moves to the court phase (kovuşturma). Depending on the allegation, questions of arrest and remand (tutuklama) or judicial control (adli kontrol) can also arise — see our page on arrest, remand & bail.

The exact steps, order and any time limits are set by law and depend on the case — a lawyer can explain what applies to your situation.

Who do we help?

• Travellers and tourists asked to give a statement during a stop at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
• Foreigners and expats summoned to a police station or prosecutor's office to give a statement
• People told they are a suspect (şüpheli) in an investigation and unsure what to do
• Witnesses (tanık) who want advice before they are questioned
• Dual nationals (Turkish and another citizenship) caught up in an investigation unexpectedly
• Families and friends acting urgently for someone who has been asked to give a statement, and people abroad who learn an investigation names them

How we help

1. 1
   Advise before you speakWe listen, explain in plain English what stage the matter is at and what you are being heard as, and advise you on your right to silence and how to approach the statement — ideally before you give it.
2. 2
   Attend the statementWhere possible, a lawyer is present when you give your statement, makes sure an interpreter is there if you need one, and sees that the record reflects what you actually mean.
3. 3
   Protect your positionWe act to protect your rights through the investigation, deal with the prosecutor and the paperwork, and — where there are grounds — challenge how things were done. We do not promise outcomes, because no honest lawyer can.
4. 4
   Follow upWe keep you informed in writing in your own language, track deadlines and any next steps, and continue to act for you if the matter moves forward to court.

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

Frequently asked questions