Justice Minister Akın Gürlek spoke at the 2026-2027 Judicial Year Opening Program, organized by Ankara Bar Association No. 2 at the Conference Hall of the Ankara Courthouse. The program was attended by AK Party Secretary-General Eyyüp Kadir İnan, MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Aykut Çelik, Ankara Bar Association No. 2 President Gökhan Ağdemir and members of the judiciary.
Gürlek said they attached importance to continuous consultation and a shared approach to finding solutions between the Ministry of Justice and bar associations. The minister said that during his visits to provinces, he discussed professional issues directly with bar association presidents and boards.
Emphasis on the judicial system and legal certainty
Gürlek said that Türkiye had experienced periods of coups and states of emergency in the past when efforts were made to place the judiciary at the service of tutelage rather than citizens. He argued that the FETÖ organization had caused major upheaval in the judicial system. Gürlek said restructuring was being carried out to establish an independent, citizen-focused judiciary.
Gürlek said social peace, political stability and the capacity for civilian representation had not been at today's level in the past, adding that Türkiye was determined to permanently eliminate the threat of terrorism. He emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity between state institutions and all segments of society.
Gürlek also addressed the work of Ankara Bar Association No. 2's Turkish World Legal Cooperation Commission. He said cooperation among bar associations and legal professionals in the Turkic world should be developed in education, arbitration, legislative work and the sharing of experience.
Criticism of international law
Gürlek said the global legal order was undergoing a major test. He argued that some Western countries that spoke about human rights and the rule of law applied double standards in the face of severe suffering, adding that this approach had undermined confidence in international law.
Gürlek said people in the nearby region had long faced migration, genocide and massacres. He stated that treating victims differently based on their identity, faith or the region where they lived damaged the claim of international law to universality. He said Türkiye would continue to adopt a consistent approach to human rights violations and work to ensure that international law was enforced.
Regulations concerning the legal profession
Gürlek said the legal profession was a fundamental element of the defense and emphasized the importance of lawyers protecting professional ethics and the rule of law independently of political and ideological disputes. He said they were open to constructive, practicable and solution-oriented proposals to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice.
Gürlek said work was being carried out under the Judicial Reform Strategy Document to strengthen the defense and enable lawyers to participate more effectively in judicial proceedings. He raised preparations for a new Attorneyship Law, expanding access to information and documents, supporting young and public-sector lawyers, and improving legal aid services.
Gürlek also said consultations with bar associations would continue on reducing the tax burden on legal services, developing the UYAP and e-hearing systems, combating violence against lawyers linked to their professional activities, and expanding representation by lawyers.
Judicial package and case durations
Gürlek recalled that the first section of the 12th Judicial Package had been enacted and entered into force, and said the second section was planned to be placed on the agenda in October. He announced that the package, which is expected to comprise 24 to 25 articles, was also intended to include regulations aimed at resolving lawyers' problems.
Responding to lawyers' requests concerning firearms license fees, Gürlek said an agreement had been reached with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance for half the fee to be charged for the initial application and no fee to be charged for renewals.
Gürlek announced that the aim was to complete rent determination lawsuits within nine months and eviction lawsuits within 1.5 years. He said measures to prevent divorce proceedings from being prolonged were also on the agenda. He added that the legal regulations needed concerning indefinite alimony following the Constitutional Court's annulment decision were also planned to be addressed in the package expected to be placed on the agenda in October.
Gürlek said everyone was equal before the law and that no one could be exempt from legal sanctions. He said a strong legal order was fundamental to Türkiye's secure future, social peace and pursuit of justice, adding that the goal of a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution would continue.
