Arrest or detention
01A person has been arrested or detained
Share the person's full name, location, nationality, the authority involved and the last confirmed contact. Do not rely on a general website for custody timing or likely release.
Criminal lawyer in Turkey
Criminal Law and Defence in Turkey
Clear Turkish criminal-law advice for international clients, relatives and foreign counsel at investigation, questioning, detention and court stages.
- Jurisdiction
- Turkish criminal law
- Clients
- Individuals and international clients
- Focus
- Investigation and defence
Start with what happened
The right next step depends on the stage of the case.
A summons, detention, investigation and court hearing require different preparation. Choose the situation closest to yours so the first review can focus on the immediate legal decision.
Police or prosecutor contact
02You have been called for questioning
The notice, your status in the matter and the requesting authority should be reviewed before assumptions are made about the interview or statement.
Investigation
03You believe an investigation is under way
Preserve the documents and communications already available. Counsel can assess the known procedural position and identify which facts still need confirmation.
Court proceedings
04A hearing or criminal case is pending
Send the available indictment, hearing notice, decision or case reference. Advice must be based on the file and current procedural stage.
Family enquiry
05You are seeking help for a relative
A relative can provide initial facts and documents from abroad. Formal authority, confidentiality and who the lawyer represents must then be agreed clearly.
Reporting an offence
06You need advice about making a complaint
The first review identifies the event, available evidence and the appropriate legal route. Representation is confirmed only after the facts and service scope are checked.
Detention and questioning
If someone is in custody, begin with verified information.
Criminal procedure is fact-sensitive. The authority, location, procedural status and available documents matter before counsel can advise on the next step.
- 01
Identify the person and location
Provide the person's full name, date of birth, nationality and last known location, together with the name of the police, prosecutor or other authority if known.
- 02
Confirm what has happened
State who gave the information and whether arrest, detention, questioning, transfer or a court appearance has been confirmed. Avoid filling gaps with assumptions.
- 03
Preserve notices and references
Keep copies of notices, case numbers, messages and contact details. Send sensitive material only through a contact method agreed with the firm.
- 04
Explain the next known event
Mention any scheduled interview, hearing or requested attendance. Exact rights, steps and time limits require current advice on the specific matter.
This page is not an emergency service and does not state continuous availability. Use the contact details shown by the firm and describe the situation accurately.
Criminal proceedings in Turkey
How an investigation can move towards court and review
The Turkish Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure serve different functions. Counsel must apply the current official texts to the file rather than treating this overview as procedural advice.
- 01
Immediate legal review
The first review establishes the known facts, the client's status, the authority involved and the next event requiring a decision.
- 02
Investigation stage
Counsel reviews the known investigation position, available evidence and procedural documents, and advises on representation during statements or questioning where applicable.
- 03
Decision on the case
The file may reach a procedural decision that changes what happens next. Its legal effect and the available response must be read from the current record.
- 04
Court proceedings
Defence preparation may involve the allegation, evidence, procedural objections, hearing preparation and communication with the client or authorised contacts.
- 05
Appeal or further review
Available review routes depend on the decision, court, procedural history and current law. The written decision and service information should be examined promptly.
Criminal-law representation
What a Turkish criminal lawyer can assess and prepare
The mandate should state the client, the proceeding, the work to be done and the communication route. No page can predict an outcome or replace advice on the file.
Procedural status and immediate risk
Confirm whether the person is being treated as a suspect, defendant, complainant or another participant, and identify the next known procedural event.
File and evidence review
Review available notices, decisions, allegations, statements and evidence. Access and next steps depend on the stage and applicable procedural rules.
Questioning and statements
Prepare for contact with the relevant authority and advise on the legal position during interviews or statements where representation is available.
Court preparation and representation
Define the defence issues, required documents, hearing preparation and representation for the proceeding covered by the instruction.
International communication
Agree how the client, authorised relatives and foreign counsel will receive updates without confusing legal representation or breaching confidentiality.
Connected legal issues
Immigration, deportation, extradition, sanctions or foreign-law questions may require a separate instruction or another qualified adviser.
Foreign nationals in Turkey
Lawyer, interpreter and consulate have different roles.
Language and consular support can be important, but neither replaces independent legal advice and defence in the Turkish proceeding.
Turkish lawyer
The lawyer advises on Turkish law, the procedural file and the agreed defence mandate. The lawyer's client and authority must be identified clearly.
Interpreter
An interpreter supports communication between languages. An interpreter does not provide legal advice or decide the defence strategy. Availability and formal requirements depend on the setting.
Embassy or consulate
Consular staff may provide forms of assistance allowed for the person's nationality and circumstances. They do not act as the person's Turkish criminal lawyer or control the proceeding.
Travel status, residence rights and possible immigration consequences require separate review. They should not be treated as automatic results of a criminal-law issue.
Instructions from abroad
A relative can begin the enquiry without becoming the client.
Families often hold the first useful information when a person cannot communicate freely. The firm must still confirm who is represented, what authority is available and which information may be shared.
Prepare reliable identifiers
Send the person's full name, date of birth, nationality, location and any known police, prosecutor, court or case details.
Explain your relationship
State how you are connected to the person and how your information was obtained. This helps counsel separate confirmed facts from second-hand reports.
Confirm representation and authority
Contact by a relative does not itself determine the lawyer's client or permit disclosure. Engagement, authority and confidentiality are addressed for the matter.
Agree a communication route
Where appropriate, updates can be coordinated with authorised relatives or foreign counsel under a clear and confidential communication plan.
Defined service scope
The alleged offence and the stage must be checked before instructions are accepted.
The firm's criminal-law work depends on the alleged conduct, procedural stage, conflicts and the representation required. The first assessment confirms whether the matter falls within Burkay's mandate and what work can be undertaken.
A precise scope protects the client. It identifies which Turkish proceeding is covered, which person or entity is represented and which connected issues need separate counsel.
- Criminal investigation, questioning, detention, court or review work that the firm confirms it accepts.
- Foreign documents, overseas contacts and coordination that relate directly to the Turkish instruction.
- Immigration, tax, regulatory, civil, employment or foreign-law questions referred for separate advice where needed.
Do not rely on a general online deadline. The available route and timing require current, case-specific review.
The first task is to identify the decision and its procedural effect. Different decisions can lead to different review questions and requirements.
Review work may address the legal grounds, evidential record, procedural history and documents needed for the permitted route. No result can be inferred from the existence of a review mechanism.
Prepare for the first contact
Send enough information to identify the case, but protect sensitive material.
A concise, accurate summary helps counsel assess the immediate issue and confirm whether the firm can act.
- 01Full name, date of birth, nationality and current location of the person involved.
- 02Police, prosecutor, court or other authority, plus any case or reference number.
- 03What has happened, the source of that information and the next known interview, attendance or hearing.
- 04Available notices, decisions, summonses or correspondence, shared only through an agreed secure method.
- 05Your contact details, time zone, relationship to the person and preferred language for communication.
Do not send original documents or detailed privileged material through an unconfirmed channel. The firm can explain how documents should be provided after initial contact.
Criminal-law questions
Direct answers for international clients and families
These answers provide a safe starting point. The official file, current law and individual facts determine the advice.
When should I contact a criminal lawyer in Turkey?
Contact Turkish counsel when you learn of an investigation, receive a summons, expect questioning, face detention or have a criminal hearing or decision to address. Early contact helps identify the procedural stage and the next decision, but it does not guarantee a particular outcome.
What should I do if I am arrested or detained in Turkey?
Provide a lawyer with your identity, location, the authority involved and any known case details as accurately as possible. Rights, custody steps and timing depend on the facts and current procedure, so obtain case-specific advice instead of relying on a general online timeline.
Can a lawyer assist with police or prosecutor questioning?
A Turkish lawyer can assess the notice, the person's procedural status and the available role of counsel for the proposed questioning. The exact preparation and attendance position must be confirmed for the authority and stage involved.
What is the role of an interpreter in a Turkish criminal case?
An interpreter supports accurate communication for a person who does not understand the language being used. The interpreter does not replace legal counsel, and the applicable arrangements should be checked for the particular procedure.
Can my embassy or consulate represent me?
No. Consular staff do not act as your Turkish criminal lawyer or direct the Turkish proceeding. The assistance they may provide depends on nationality, circumstances and their current consular rules.
Can my family contact a criminal lawyer from abroad?
Yes, a relative can make the initial enquiry and provide known case information. The lawyer must then establish who the client is, what authority exists and which information can be shared under the applicable confidentiality arrangements.
What should I prepare for the first discussion?
Prepare identity and contact details, the relevant authority, any case reference, a short chronology and copies of available notices or decisions. Ask the firm to confirm a suitable method before sending sensitive documents.
Can a criminal decision in Turkey be appealed or reviewed?
Some decisions may be subject to an available appeal or review route, but the answer depends on the decision and procedural history. Counsel should examine the written decision, court details and notification information promptly, without assuming a standard deadline applies.
Official sources
Criminal-law and procedure resources
Official legislation and public guidance relevant to Turkish criminal law and procedure.
Turkish Penal Code No. 5237Official consolidated Turkish text published through Mevzuat.Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271Official consolidated Turkish criminal-procedure text published through Mevzuat.WIPO Lex reference for Law No. 5237International reference entry for the Turkish Penal Code and available legal materials.GOV.UK arrest and imprisonment guidancePublic consular guidance for British nationals in Turkey, used only to explain the separate consular role.
Confidential criminal-law enquiry
Explain what has happened and the next known event.
Provide the person's identity, location, authority, case reference and available notice or decision. The firm will confirm whether it can accept the instruction and how sensitive documents should be shared.