If you or a family member has been detained or charged with a grave offence, a serious crimes lawyer in Antalya can step in from the first police interview through to the final appeal. Alkan Law Firm defends suspects and defendants in cases heard by the High Criminal Courts (Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi), and we also represent victims who join the proceedings.
We work in English, German, Russian and Arabic as well as Turkish, so you and your family can follow every step and ask questions directly. When someone is held in custody, time matters: call or message us as soon as you can.
What counts as a serious crime in Turkey
The High Criminal Courts hear offences that carry heavier prison sentences; lesser offences go to the Criminal Courts of First Instance. Cases are decided by a panel of three judges, not a jury.
Typical matters include:
- drug manufacturing, supply and trafficking offences
- serious violence, including intentional killing and aggravated injury
- robbery, kidnapping and deprivation of liberty
- sexual offences
- organised crime, migrant smuggling and human trafficking
- aggravated fraud, bribery and embezzlement
For less serious charges, see our page for a criminal lawyer in Antalya.
How we can help
- Attending police and prosecutor interviews and advising you before you make any statement
- Representing you at the detention hearing before the criminal judgeship of peace
- Filing objections to detention and requesting release or alternatives such as judicial control
- Reviewing the case file, digital evidence, witness statements and expert reports
- Responding to the indictment and conducting the defence at trial
- Appeals to the Regional Court of Appeal (istinaf) and the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay)
- Post-judgment matters such as execution of sentence and conditional release
- Representing victims and their families as intervening parties
Your rights as a foreign suspect
Foreign nationals have the same procedural rights as Turkish citizens. Several of them matter in the first hours after an arrest.
- Right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions, and you can wait until you have spoken with a lawyer.
- Right to a lawyer. Under the Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271, appointing defence counsel is mandatory in certain cases, including offences with a high minimum penalty and suspects under 18. If you do not choose a lawyer, the bar association appoints one. You can still instruct a lawyer of your own choice at any time.
- Right to an interpreter. If you do not speak Turkish well, an interpreter must be provided during questioning and at trial.
- Consular notification. You can ask the authorities to inform your consulate of your detention. Consular staff can visit you and contact your family, but they cannot act as your lawyer.
A criminal case can also affect your residence status and may lead to deportation proceedings or an entry ban. See our residence permit page.
How the process works
- Custody and questioning. The police take your statement under the supervision of the public prosecutor. Custody periods are short and strictly limited by law.
- Detention hearing. The prosecutor may ask a criminal judgeship of peace to order pre-trial detention or judicial control (for example, a travel ban or reporting to a police station).
- Objection and review. Detention orders can be challenged by objection, and detention must be reviewed at regular intervals. Short deadlines apply, so we act quickly.
- Investigation. The prosecutor collects evidence, including forensic and expert reports. We can request evidence in your favour and comment on reports.
- Indictment and trial. If the prosecutor files an indictment, the High Criminal Court holds hearings, usually at the Antalya Courthouse, and delivers a judgment.
- Appeals. The judgment can be appealed to the Regional Court of Appeal and, for many sentences, then to the Court of Cassation. Appeal deadlines are strict and run from the date set by law, so missing them can make a judgment final.
Evidence and expert reports
Serious cases often turn on technical evidence such as phone records, camera footage, forensic reports or drug analysis. We check whether evidence was obtained lawfully and whether the expert answered the right questions, and ask for a new report where needed.
If you or your family live abroad
Relatives outside Turkey can contact us directly, and we can visit the detained person to receive instructions. If you have left Turkey and a case continues here, you can usually be represented through a power of attorney issued at a Turkish consulate, or by a local notary with an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation. Some steps in a criminal case still require your personal attendance or a hearing by video link; we will explain what applies to you.
If you are serving a sentence in Turkey, international agreements may allow a transfer to your home country to serve the rest of it. We can advise whether this is possible.
Fees
Our fees are agreed in writing before work begins and cannot be lower than the minimum fee tariff of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. To discuss a case, please contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Should I answer police questions before a lawyer arrives?
You have the right to remain silent and to speak with a lawyer first. What you say in an early interview can carry weight later, so it is usually wise to wait for legal advice.
Will I get an interpreter if I do not speak Turkish?
Yes. An interpreter must be provided free of charge during questioning and at hearings. We also explain each step to you in English, German, Russian or Arabic.
Can a detained person be released before trial?
Yes. Detention is meant to be an exceptional measure. We can object to a detention order and ask for release under judicial control, such as a travel ban or regular reporting to the police.
Can I leave Turkey while my case is ongoing?
Not if the court has imposed a travel ban. Without one, leaving may be possible but can affect the case, so talk to us first.
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney–client relationship. Every case is different; please consult a lawyer before taking any legal step. This page is published in accordance with the Professional Rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the advertising ban for attorneys.