Türkiye Ranks 117th in Rule of Law, Tops ECHR Violation List

According to the World Justice Project’s 2024 Rule of Law Index, Türkiye ranks 117th out of 142 countries, placing it in the bottom quartile globally. The report highlights deepening concerns over judicial independence, especially in the wake of high-profile political prosecutions that have eroded public trust in the judiciary.

Legal experts point to the March 19, 2024 arrest and detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as a major flashpoint, reigniting debate over the separation of powers and judicial impartiality in Türkiye.

Türkiye Has the Most ECHR Applications in Europe

A further indicator of declining public confidence in the legal system is the surge in complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As of late 2024, Türkiye accounted for 36% of all applications submitted from 47 European countries—21,600 out of 60,350 total cases, according to figures cited by BirGün. This makes Türkiye the most frequently complained-about country in the ECHR’s docket.

Over 3,300 ECHR Violation Rulings Against Türkiye Since 2002

From 2002 to 2024, the ECHR has issued 3,363 violation rulings against Türkiye, revealing systemic issues with rights protection and due process. The highest number of violations in a single year was recorded in 2009, with 341 rulings. Other significant years include:

• 2007 – 257 violations

• 2012 – 117 violations

• 2017 – 99 violations

• 2022 – 73 violations

• 2024 – 67 violations

These figures underscore Türkiye’s longstanding challenges in aligning with European human rights standards and addressing structural flaws in its legal system.