New step from the Ministry of Justice for terror investigations: Sent to chief public prosecutor's offices in 81 provinces

The Ministry of Justice has decided to establish independent "Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus" within provincial chief public prosecutor's offices to ensure that investigations into terror crimes are conducted more effectively, rapidly, and in a coordinated manner. It is envisioned that prosecutors assigned to these bureaus will not be assigned tasks outside of terror crimes, that investigations will be conducted solely by these specialized units, and that coordination meetings will be held with law enforcement units every month.

In the directive prepared under the instructions of Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek and sent to 175 high criminal court chief public prosecutor's offices in 81 provinces with the signature of Deputy Minister Can Tuncay, measures to be taken to ensure uniformity of practice across the country in the fight against terrorist organizations and to increase the efficiency of work and procedures at the chief public prosecutor's offices were listed. The directive pointed out that terror crimes have a direct impact on public safety, social peace, the indivisible integrity of the state with its territory and nation, the democratic legal order, and the sense of security of citizens. It was emphasized that, in addition to conducting investigations into these crimes meticulously, without delay, and in accordance with the legislation, it is important to regularly monitor the movements, current structures, and activities of terrorist organizations across the country.

Independent investigation bureaus will be established

According to the directive, independent "Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus" will be formed within provincial chief public prosecutor's offices to conduct investigations solely related to terror crimes. Investigations other than terror crimes will not be included in the job description of these bureaus. To ensure that public prosecutors assigned to these bureaus specialize in terror investigations and focus on their files, they will not be assigned duties such as on-call duty, trial prosecution, or other tasks outside of terror crimes. Information regarding the chief public prosecutor deputies responsible for the bureaus and the assigned public prosecutors, as well as any subsequent changes in assignments, will be reported to the Department of Terror Crimes of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice.

Investigations will be conducted by specialized bureaus

All work and procedures related to terror crimes will be carried out by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureaus to be established within the provincial chief public prosecutor's offices. In cases where delay is deemed risky, district chief public prosecutor's offices may carry out mandatory investigation procedures upon instructions received from the provincial chief public prosecutor's office. It will be ensured that documents regarding procedures performed by district prosecutor's offices are completed without delay and sent to the relevant provincial chief public prosecutor's office. Thus, the aim is to conduct terror investigations from a single center, under the responsibility of specialized public prosecutors, and within a framework of common practice across the country.

Monthly coordination meeting with police and gendarmerie

With the new practice, coordination between judicial authorities and law enforcement units in the fight against terrorism will also be strengthened. An evaluation meeting will be held in the first week of every month under the coordination of the Department of Terror Crimes of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs. Officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department of the General Directorate of Security and the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Gendarmerie General Command will be invited to the meetings. During the meetings, the current structures and activities of terrorist organizations, investigation processes across the country, and methods of combat will be evaluated. The findings and assessments obtained will be shared with provincial chief public prosecutor's offices to contribute to terror investigations.

Monthly statistics will be compiled nationwide

The Department of Terror Crimes of the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs will also compile monthly statistics regarding terror investigations conducted across Turkey. The statistics to be prepared will be shared with the relevant units of the General Directorate of Security and the Gendarmerie General Command before the coordination meetings held each month. In line with this data, the activities of terrorist organizations, the course of investigations, regional developments, and new measures to be taken will be evaluated regularly.

Efficiency and uniformity of practice in investigations are targeted

The regulation aims to increase coordination between chief public prosecutor's offices in the fight against terror crimes, to conduct investigations without delay, and to ensure the specialization of public prosecutors working in the field of terror. Thanks to regular information sharing between judicial authorities and police and gendarmerie units, the goal is to monitor the movements of terrorist organizations across the country in a holistic manner, to uncover their current structures, and to ensure uniformity of practice in investigations.

The directive was sent to 175 high criminal court chief public prosecutor's offices for implementation, and to the Counter-Terrorism Department of the General Directorate of Security and the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Gendarmerie General Command for information.