02.09.2026 15:11
Speaking at the 2026-2027 Judicial Year Opening Ceremony, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek said, 'We consider the goal of a Turkey without terrorism important for strengthening our nation's common future, social peace, and our national unity and solidarity.'
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, speaking at the 2026-2027 Judicial Year Opening Ceremony, said, "We consider the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye important for the strengthening of our nation's common future, social peace, and our national unity and solidarity. As we progress toward the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye, I wish for you to also be careful and sensitive against attempts to exploit this delicate process, disrupt social peace, or harm our nation's unity and solidarity through provocations."
A 2026-2027 Judicial Year Opening Ceremony was held at the Martyr Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz Campus of the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. The ceremony in the courthouse's Atrium area began with a moment of silence and the national anthem. Attending the ceremony were Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Deputy Justice Minister Burak Ceyhan, Deputy Justice Minister Can Tuncay, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Fatih Dönmez, Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor Beşir Güven, Forensic Medicine Institution Head Hızır Aslıyüksek, Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız, Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor Barış Kurt, Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor Vedat Yiğit, Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor Ömer Karakaya, Gaziosmanpaşa Chief Public Prosecutor Hasan Dalak, and Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor Barış Duman.
ALO JUSTICE 135 SERVICE BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 1
Minister Gürlek, speaking at the judicial year opening ceremony, stated, "We cannot be content with merely operating the existing system to further strengthen our nation's trust in justice. In line with the goals of the Century of Türkiye, we want to make this period also the Century of Justice. The Century of Justice is not just a slogan for us. It is a goal for a Türkiye where citizens reach their rights faster, trials conclude within a reasonable time, legal security and predictability increase, defense is strengthened, access to justice is facilitated, and technology contributes to the speed and quality of justice services. For this reason, we do not limit our reform understanding solely to legislative changes; we are also establishing systems that will make the daily functioning of the judiciary more efficient. With the Efficiency of Judicial Services Offices, we aim to ensure that the causes of prolonged cases and investigations are identified earlier, target times are monitored more effectively, and the efficiency of justice services is continuously measured and improved. We focus not on the content of judicial decisions, but on strengthening the administrative and technical capacity that will contribute to the more orderly, faster, and more effective functioning of judicial services. One of the latest steps of this approach is the Alo Justice 135 service. With the application starting as a pilot region in the courthouses of Ankara Batı, İzmir, and Kayseri as of September 1, we have created a new communication channel through which our citizens can quickly and securely transmit their applications, especially regarding long-running cases and investigations, to the relevant authorities. We aim to establish a justice system that hears our citizens' voices more directly, identifies the reasons for delays, and increases its capacity to produce solutions."
'WE ATTENTIVELY FOCUS ON UNSOLVED INCIDENTS'
Minister Gürlek said, "For us, it is as important that material truth does not remain in the dark as much as justice being delivered on time. Therefore, we attentively focus on unsolved incidents and files that have awaited answers in the public conscience for years. Through the work of our Department for Investigating Unsolved Crimes, established within our Ministry, we are re-evaluating files that could not be resolved in the past with today's technological and criminalistic capabilities. Within the scope of these efforts, significant progress has been made to date in shedding light on many unsolved incidents. The passage of time does not diminish the value of material truth. We believe that every file not closed in the public conscience must be meticulously addressed within the framework of legal possibilities and concrete evidence. Likewise, all our departments continue their intensive efforts to increase efficiency in justice services. We do not see justice services as limited only to classical types of crime. The protection of our forests, natural assets, and our Green Homeland, which is the common trust of future generations, is also within the responsibility of the rule of law. From deliberately started fires to sabotage attempts, and actions causing great environmental damage through negligent behavior, it is of great importance that investigations in this area are conducted meticulously and material truth is rapidly uncovered. Protecting the Green Homeland means protecting not only today's environment but also the rights of our future generations. This approach has been clearly demonstrated in our Ministry's recent work."
'WE APPRECIATE JUDICIAL OFFICIALS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THOSE WHO EXPLOIT RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL SENTIMENTS'
Akın Gürlek said, "We also evaluate the fight against drugs, illegal betting and virtual gambling, street gangs, organized crime structures, money laundering of crime proceeds, and new-generation digital crimes that threaten our nation's peace, within the same understanding of the rule of law. In the fight against structures that target our families and youth; exploit religious, national, and humanitarian sentiments; misuse people's trust; or gain unjust benefits from crime proceeds, we appreciate our judicial officials' lawful, concrete evidence-based, and meticulous work. I would particularly like to state that we stand morally with all our colleagues who carry out this heavy responsibility, and that we will continue to develop the necessary institutional and technical capacity. We are not against any religious structure, national formation, or humanitarian and social projects aimed at public benefit. What we are against are real or legal persons who exploit our society's values, misuse people's goodwill and trust, take advantage of legal gaps for unjust gain, harm our nation's conscience, and damage public order. In the fight against these structures, we believe that material truth will be revealed, no matter where it leads, in the direction shown by the law and concrete evidence."
'WE CONSIDER THE GOAL OF A TERROR-FREE TÜRKİYE IMPORTANT'
Minister Gürlek stated, "We consider the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye important for the strengthening of our nation's common future, social peace, and our national unity and solidarity. By always preserving the sacred memory of our martyrs and the sacrifice of our veterans, without making any concessions from the unity of our state and nation, the integrity of our country, and the fundamental principles of the rule of law, a Türkiye where terrorism is completely removed from our country's agenda is our common wish. As we progress toward the goal of a Terror-Free Türkiye, I wish for you to also be careful and sensitive against attempts to exploit this delicate process, disrupt social peace, or harm our nation's unity and solidarity through provocations."
'JUSTICE IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE RULE OF LAW'
Speaking at the program, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Fatih Dönmez said, "I wish the new judicial year to be beneficial for our country, our nation, and our judiciary community."I commemorate with mercy and gratitude our judges and public prosecutors who lost their lives in the line of duty, and all members of the judicial organization. Distinguished guests, justice is not merely one of the services the state provides to its citizens. Justice is the foundation of the rule of law. It is the strongest guarantee of the citizen's trust in the state. Therefore, we must carry out our duties knowing that every citizen who enters the courthouse door is not merely a party to a file, but has a life, a family, and an expectation of justice behind them. For us, justice is delivering the right to its owner, protecting the innocent, holding the guilty accountable within the law, and strengthening the victim's faith in justice.