20.07.2026 22:11
The Ministry of Justice decided to establish specialized Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus in 175 heavy penal chief public prosecutor's offices across 81 provinces to expedite terror crime investigations. The bureaus will handle only terror cases and hold monthly meetings with law enforcement.
By the instruction of Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, a letter was sent to 175 heavy criminal chief public prosecutor's offices in 81 provinces, requesting the establishment of independent "Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus" within the provincial chief public prosecutor's offices.
WILL ONLY HANDLE TERROR CRIMES
The Ministry of Justice decided to establish independent "Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus" within provincial chief public prosecutor's offices to conduct investigations related to terror crimes more effectively, swiftly, and coordinately. It is foreseen that prosecutors assigned to these bureaus will not be given tasks outside terror crimes, investigations will be carried out solely by these specialized units, and coordination meetings will be held monthly with law enforcement units.
In the letter prepared by the instruction of Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek and sent to 175 heavy criminal chief public prosecutor's offices in 81 provinces under the signature of Deputy Minister Can Tuncay, measures to be taken to ensure unity of practice across the country in the fight against terrorist organizations and to increase the effectiveness of work and procedures before chief public prosecutor's offices were listed. The letter pointed out that terror crimes have a direct impact on public safety, social peace, the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation, the democratic legal order, and citizens' sense of security. It emphasized the importance of conducting investigations related to these crimes meticulously, without delay, and in accordance with legislation, as well as regularly monitoring the movements, current structures, and activities of terrorist organizations across the country.
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAUS WILL BE ESTABLISHED
According to the letter, independent "Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus" will be established within provincial chief public prosecutor's offices solely to conduct investigations related to terror crimes. Investigations other than terror crimes will not be included in the job description of these bureaus. To ensure that prosecutors assigned to these bureaus specialize in terror investigations and focus on files, they will not be assigned duties such as duty shifts, trial prosecution, or other tasks outside terror crimes. Information of the deputy chief public prosecutors responsible for the bureaus and the assigned public prosecutors, as well as subsequent changes in assignments, will be reported to the Terror Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice.
INVESTIGATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY SPECIALIZED BUREAUS
All work and procedures related to terror crimes will be carried out by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus established within provincial chief public prosecutor's offices. In cases where delay poses a risk, district chief public prosecutor's offices may carry out compulsory investigation procedures upon instructions from the provincial chief public prosecutor's office. Documents related to procedures conducted by district chief public prosecutor's offices will be completed without delay and sent to the relevant provincial chief public prosecutor's office. Thus, it is aimed to conduct terror investigations from a single center, under the responsibility of specialized public prosecutors, and within a common application framework across the country.
MONTHLY COORDINATION MEETING WITH POLICE AND GENDARMERIE
With the new practice, coordination between judicial authorities and law enforcement units in the fight against terror will also be strengthened. An evaluation meeting will be held in the first week of each month under the coordination of the Terror Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs. Officials from the Department of Anti-Terrorism of the General Directorate of Security and the Department of Anti-Terrorism of the Gendarmerie General Command will be invited to the meetings. At the meetings, the current structures, activities, investigation processes across the country, and methods of combating terrorist organizations will be evaluated. The findings and assessments obtained will be shared with provincial chief public prosecutor's offices to contribute to terror investigations.
MONTHLY STATISTICS WILL BE COLLECTED NATIONWIDE
The Terror Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs will also compile monthly statistics on terror investigations conducted across Turkey. The prepared statistics will be shared with relevant units of the General Directorate of Security and the Gendarmerie General Command before the coordination meetings held each month. Based on this data, the activities of terrorist organizations, the progress of investigations, regional developments, and new measures to be taken will be regularly evaluated.
EFFECTIVENESS IN INVESTIGATIONS AND UNITY OF PRACTICE AIMED
The regulation aims to increase coordination among chief public prosecutor's offices in the fight against terror crimes, conduct investigations without delay, and ensure the specialization of public prosecutors working in the field of terror. Through regular information sharing between judicial authorities and police and gendarmerie units, it is aimed to holistically monitor the movements of terrorist organizations across the country, reveal their current structures, and ensure unity of practice in investigations.
The letter was sent to 175 heavy criminal chief public prosecutor's offices for implementation, and for information to the Department of Anti-Terrorism of the General Directorate of Security and the Department of Anti-Terrorism of the Gendarmerie General Command. - ANKARA