ADAR HUKUK · ISTANBUL
Criminal law in Turkey.
Understand your next step.
English language guidance for suspects, defendants, victims and families. Explore the process from a first police summons to trial, appeal and sentence enforcement.
Choose your starting point
PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Urgent situations
Arrest and police custody in Turkey
An arrest at an airport, a police check or a local station requires a clear understanding of the authority involved and the current stage of the investigation.
Read the guide →Pretrial detention and release applications
Judicial remand is a precautionary measure during proceedings. A release application must address the reasons for detention and the facts of the individual case.
Read the guide →Travel bans and judicial control measures
A person may be released from custody while remaining subject to an overseas travel ban or other court ordered obligations.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Investigation
Police questioning and the right to a defence
A summons may concern a suspect, a witness or a complainant. Identifying your procedural role is the first step in preparing for questioning.
Read the guide →From investigation to prosecution
A Turkish criminal case can pass through an investigation, an indictment and proceedings before a criminal court. Each stage has its own documents and legal options.
Read the guide →Search, seizure and digital evidence
A search or seizure may involve a home, workplace, vehicle, phone or financial records. Legal basis, documentation and attribution require separate examination.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Court proceedings
PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Offence guides
Fraud allegations and financial transactions
Commercial disagreements, online transactions and bank transfers need careful factual analysis before they are characterised as criminal fraud.
Read the guide →Cybercrime, online scams and account misuse
Online incidents can involve several offences and more than one jurisdiction. The first task is to preserve a reliable account of the event and identify the relevant digital records.
Read the guide →Drug related allegations in Turkey
Possession for personal use and supply related allegations involve different legal questions. The substance, circumstances and evidence must be read together.
Read the guide →Assault, injury, threats and personal disputes
Personal disputes may produce competing complaints, medical reports and witness accounts. Each alleged act and each person’s procedural role should be assessed separately.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Victims and witnesses
Criminal complaints and victim participation
A useful complaint explains the incident, identifies available evidence and distinguishes criminal prosecution from any request for financial recovery.
Read the guide →Witness summons and giving evidence
A witness summons should be read for its issuing authority, date and requirements. Witness status is different from being a suspect or defendant.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Judgments and remedies
Criminal appeals: istinaf and temyiz
An appeal depends on the decision, its notification and statutory admissibility rules. The English labels below explain the Turkish procedures in general terms.
Read the guide →Sentence enforcement and release calculations
The sentence imposed by a court and the period to be served are different questions. Enforcement requires a case specific assessment of the final judgment and applicable rules.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
International clients
Handling a Turkish criminal case from abroad
A person living outside Turkey may still receive summonses or have an ongoing Turkish criminal file. Start with reliable documents and a clear representation plan.
Read the guide →Foreign nationals, interpreters and consular assistance
Language support, consular contact and defence representation serve different functions in a Turkish criminal proceeding.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Practical resources
Understanding Turkish criminal case documents
This glossary explains common Turkish terms so international clients can organise their documents and communicate the current procedural stage.
Read the guide →Consultations, fees and powers of attorney
A clear mandate identifies the work to be undertaken, its fee and the documents required. Initial advice and representation throughout a case may have different scopes.
Read the guide →PRACTICAL LEGAL GUIDES
Contact
How an initial review is prepared
- Identify your role: suspect, defendant, victim, witness or a relative making contact.
- Identify the file: police station, prosecutor’s office, court and case number.
- Organise documents: summons, statement, indictment, decisions, judgment and service records.
- Flag dates: hearings, notifications, custody and planned travel.
- Agree the mandate: consultation language, professional work, fees and required authorisation.
Frequently asked questions
Does living abroad change the law of a Turkish criminal case?
A foreign residence does not automatically change the governing law or remove a Turkish procedural obligation. Any international element should be examined separately.
Can a lawyer handle every step without my attendance?
Not automatically. Personal attendance and available alternatives depend on the proceeding and the relevant decisions.
Are all pages translations of the Turkish website?
This English section contains dedicated practical guides. Further Turkish resources are explicitly marked as Turkish, and equivalent German guides are linked where available.
Can you calculate my deadline from a short message?
A deadline assessment needs the decision, service information and applicable procedural rules. Provide the full documents promptly.
What will representation cost?
The fee depends on the agreed work. Initial advice, court representation, appeals, translation and other expenses should be discussed separately where appropriate.
Does this website confirm an appointment?
No. Contact the office to agree availability, format and consultation language.
Discuss your Turkish criminal case
Start with your procedural role, authority, case number and known dates. Confirm the consultation language and scope of work in the initial contact.
Official legal sources
The governing texts are in Turkish. This section explains practical issues in English without replacing the applicable statutory text or an assessment of the individual file.