A Turkish criminal lawyer, also known as a defense attorney, is a professional who specializes in representing individuals who are facing criminal charges in Turkey. They can advise you on the charges against you, help you understand the legal process, and defend you in court.

A Turkish criminal lawyer can also help you if you are arrested or detained, and can assist you in arranging bail and obtaining release from detention.

They can also help you if you are facing extradition proceedings to another country.

Turkish Criminal Law

Turkish criminal law regulates criminal offenses and punishments in Turkey. The main legislation governing criminal law in Turkey is the Turkish Criminal Code (TCC), 2005. The TCC lays out the definition of criminal offenses, the procedures for prosecution and trial, and the penalties for conviction.

The TCC covers a wide range of criminal offenses, including murder, theft, fraud, drug offenses, and terrorism. It also lays out specific provisions for crimes committed against the state, such as treason and espionage.

The TCC also regulates the rights of suspects and defendants, including the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of torture and other forms of mistreatment.

The Turkish criminal justice system is divided into three main branches: the police, the prosecution service and the judiciary. The police are responsible for investigating crimes and gathering evidence. The prosecution service is responsible for bringing criminal cases to court and the judiciary is responsible for trying criminal cases and passing sentence.

Turkish Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice system in Turkey is based on the inquisitorial system, which is different from the adversarial system used in common law countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In an inquisitorial system, the judicial authorities are responsible for investigating crimes and gathering evidence, rather than the parties involved in the case. The prosecutor and the judge play a more active role in the investigation process and have a wide range of powers to gather and analyze evidence. The defense counsel also has a more active role in gathering evidence and presenting it to the court.

In the inquisitorial system, the trial is conducted before a single judge or a panel of judges, rather than a jury. The judge or panel of judges is responsible for determining the facts of the case and the guilt or innocence of the accused. The verdict is based on the evidence presented and the judge’s assessment of the credibility of the witnesses.

The inquisitorial system is not unique to Turkey and it’s also used in some other European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, and Greece.

Criminal Offenses In Turkey

According to the Turkish Criminal Code (TCC), there are a wide range of criminal offenses, some examples include:

  • Homicide: TCC defines different types of homicides, such as premeditated murder, manslaughter, and infanticide. The punishment for murder can range from life imprisonment to capital punishment.
  • Theft: TCC punishes theft, including robbery, embezzlement, and fraud, with imprisonment, fines, or community service.
  • Drug offenses: TCC punishes drug offenses, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and drug abuse, with imprisonment, fines, or community service.
  • Terrorism: TCC punishes terrorist activities, including terrorist organizations, terrorist propaganda, and terrorist financing, with life imprisonment or capital punishment.
  • Crimes against the state: TCC punishes crimes against the state, such as treason, espionage, and rebellion, with life imprisonment or capital punishment.
  • Crimes against the person: TCC punishes crimes against the person, such as assault, battery, and sexual offenses, with imprisonment or fines.
  • Crimes against property: TCC punishes crimes against property, such as burglary, theft, and vandalism, with imprisonment or fines.
  • White-collar crimes: TCC punishes white-collar crimes, such as bribery, corruption, and money laundering, with imprisonment or fines.