Judicial system of Turkey

A comprehensive omnibus bill, encompassing more than 60 amendments, was published in Türkiye's Official Gazette on March 12.

The legislation, widely known as the "judicial package," entered discussions on Feb. 20 after being submitted to the parliamentary presidency earlier in the month.

Court of Appeals President İsmail Rüştü Cirit has dismissed a country report by the European Union criticizing Turkey's judicial practices as a "worthless piece of paper."

In total, 116 judges have been appointed to Turkey's Court of Cassation and the Council of State, according to the Official Gazette published on July 17.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks has expressed concern that the new composition of Turkey's Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) is far from offering adequate safeguards for judicial independence.

The HSYK held its first meeting under the leadership of the justice minister in Ankara on June 7. 

More than 154,000 people have faced legal probes over suspected links to the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen since the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

More than 154,000 people have faced legal probes over suspected links to the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen since the July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt, widely believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). 

Some 4,000 judges and prosecutors have been dismissed as part of a probe against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) since the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said May 26.

"More than 4,000 judges and prosecutors were removed from the profession due to membership, contact or affiliation with FETÖ in the Turkish judiciary," Bozdağ said.

Turkey's judicial board reshuffled over 1,000 judges and prosecutors on May 9. 

A total of 1,045 judges and prosecutors were reshuffled, including 1,035 from the judicial justice and 10 from the administrative justice, according to a statement issued on the Board of Judges and Prosecutors' (HSK) website. 

Turkey's highest judicial regulatory body dismissed another 107 judges and prosecutors on May 5 over their alleged links to U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, who is accused of masterminding the July 2016 failed coup attempt, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 

A permit has been given to investigate three judges and one prosecutor who were temporarily suspended in a case into the Gülen movement due to "public indignation," the deputy chair of Turkey's Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has stated.