Turkey's Parliament Calls for Action on Justice Crisis

During a parliamentary session, CHP deputy Gülizar Biçer Karaca highlighted the growing "justice crisis" in Turkey, stressing that prolonged pre‑trial detention and slow court proceedings undermine both the legal system and the economy. She cited Justice Ministry statistics showing average investigation periods of 155 days, first‑instance criminal cases taking 248 days, and appeals at the Court of Cassation lasting over 600 days. Karaca urged the adoption of a proposal to shorten trial times and improve access to justice. She also referenced the cases of former Istanbul mayor Tunç Soyer and Istanbul’s Üsküdar mayor Sinem Dedetaş, who have faced lengthy detentions without formal indictments, arguing that such practices turn pre‑trial custody into a punitive measure.