Turkey Investigated Over 340,000 People for Political Offenses in 2025, Official Data Show

Turkish judicial statistics reveal that more than 340,000 individuals were investigated in 2025 over political and terrorism-related charges. The data underscore the scale of politically sensitive prosecutions, while also pointing to a broader surge in criminal investigations and rising concerns over judicial independence.

Turkish prosecutors launched investigations into 340,052 individuals in 2025 on allegations related to political and terrorism-linked offenses, according to official figures published by the Justice Ministry.

The investigations were conducted under a wide range of legal provisions, including crimes against the constitutional order, terrorism offenses, violations of state security and sovereignty, as well as breaches of laws governing political parties, public assemblies, and demonstrations.

Constitutional and Terror Charges Dominate

The largest share of cases involved alleged crimes against the constitutional order—often linked to coup-related charges—with 186,472 individuals investigated. This was followed by terrorism-related offenses, which accounted for 46,750 cases.

The report does not provide a breakdown of which specific groups or affiliations were targeted under allegations of membership in criminal or terrorist organizations.

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One in Five People Faced Criminal Investigation

Beyond politically sensitive cases, the report highlights the broader scale of criminal investigations across the country.

According to the data:

• 14.39 million individuals were listed as suspects in 11.67 million investigation files
• 6.7 million people were investigated in 2025 alone
• Prosecutors concluded 5.6 million cases, filing formal charges in 1.5 million cases

These figures suggest that roughly one in five people in Turkey has been subject to some form of criminal investigation.

The data form part of the Justice Ministry’s annual judicial statistics report, covering the period from 2016 to 2025.

Sharp Increase Since 2016 Coup Attempt

The report points to a significant rise in politically sensitive cases following the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in 251 deaths and over a thousand injuries.

Since then:

• Cases in high criminal courts related to political and terrorism charges have increased by 229.8%
• Applications processed by the Constitutional Court have risen by 342%, from 16,089 in 2016 to 71,175 in 2025
• Overall caseloads across all categories have expanded by 57.7%

Judicial Independence Concerns Persist

The data were released amid ongoing concerns about judicial independence in Turkey and the use of criminal investigations in politically sensitive cases.

Human rights organizations and bar associations have repeatedly warned of political pressure on the judiciary, arguing that legal proceedings are increasingly used against dissenting voices and even the lawyers representing them.

These concerns are reflected in international rankings. In the 2025 Rule of Law Index published by the World Justice Project, Turkey ranked 118th out of 143 countries, slipping one place compared to the previous year.

Rising Caseload Signals Structural Strain

The sharp increase in both political and general criminal investigations suggests a growing burden on the judicial system, raising questions about efficiency, due process, and the broader legal environment.

As legal scrutiny intensifies and caseloads expand, the trajectory of Turkey’s judicial system is likely to remain a key issue for both domestic observers and international stakeholders.

Source:  Stockholm Center for Freedom