Being detained in a foreign country is stressful. Turkish law guarantees fundamental rights to everyone in custody, regardless of nationality.
Your rights in custody
- To be informed of the accusation,
- To remain silent,
- To consult a lawyer privately and have the lawyer present during the statement,
- To an interpreter free of charge,
- To have your consulate and a relative informed,
- To a medical examination on entry and release.
Custody periods
Individual offences: up to 24 hours. Collective offences: up to four days with prosecutor extensions. After custody, you are either released or brought before a criminal judge of peace.
Detention and judicial control
The judge may order pre-trial detention, judicial control (such as reporting obligations or a travel ban) or release. Detention orders can be appealed within seven days.
Contact
For urgent assistance in Bursa, call +90 533 723 12 34. See also our criminal law page.
Frequently asked questions
How long can police hold me?
For individual offences, police custody may not exceed 24 hours; for collective offences it may be extended up to four days by the prosecutor.
Can I leave Turkey while a case is ongoing?
If a travel ban has been imposed as a judicial control measure, you cannot leave until it is lifted. We can apply to the court to lift or modify the ban.
Member of the Bursa Bar (Reg. No 7458). Graduate of Ankara University Faculty of Law; former public prosecutor and chief public prosecutor.
