Lawsuit filed against three lawyers who filed a criminal complaint against AKP President Erdoğan: 12punto reveals the details

The authority to "file a criminal complaint," which is one of the fundamental rights of lawyers, has been stripped of its status as a "legal action" and turned into grounds for a "prison sentence" through an indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

How Did It Turn Into an Indictment?

12punto has accessed the indictment from the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the matter. The indictment scrutinizes the complaint petitions submitted by lawyers Ali Serdar Çıngı, Fettah Ayhan Erkan, and Pınar Akbina Karaman to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on July 12 and October 3, 2021.

In the indictment, the allegations included in the lawyers' petitions are evaluated within the scope of "insulting the President," and their punishment is requested in accordance with Articles 299/1 and 53 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

Questions "Contrary to the Nature of the Matter"

While the lawyers' petitions included the statement regarding armament allegations: "There is a distribution of weapons that did not enter the state inventory within the framework of a specific hierarchical structure and organization. This cannot be an ordinary organization," the following statements were made regarding the allegations against the then-General Manager of TCDD, Abdülkerim Murat Atik:

"While the police were tracking Atik's company and uncovering its connection to a criminal organization, a hand at the top of the state awarded a historic tender to that company. It is contrary to the nature of the matter for someone sitting in the highest offices of the state not to be aware of such a perverse organization trying to destroy a religion."

"Prosecution Permission" from the Ministry of Justice

One of the most striking parts of the investigation file was the bureaucratic approvals in the process.

The Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Criminal Affairs, with an "Approval" letter dated August 8, 2025, granted permission for the prosecution of these three lawyers, paving the way for the trial.

Thus, the lawyers who brought their clients' allegations to court found themselves in a high criminal court on the grounds that they asked questions directly targeting the pinnacle of the state.

A Major Blow to the Right to Defense

This case reopens the debate on the professional immunity of lawyers and the limits of the right to defense.

While lawyers Çıngı, Erkan, and Karaman emphasize that these allegations they voiced on behalf of their clients were "part of their duty," the text of the indictment links this "questioning" language to serious criminal allegations such as TCK 314 (establishing an armed organization) and TCK 247-1 (embezzlement).

The case, which will be heard at the Bakırköy High Criminal Court, is the harbinger of a "historic" trial that will determine not only the future of these three legal professionals but also the immunity of the "criminal complaint" right that a lawyer exercises on behalf of their client.

Call to the Hearing

As a call to the hearing, the People's Lawyers (Halkçı Hukukçular) shared: "We call on our people and our colleagues to the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court on June 23 at 10:40 AM."

News: Cenk BAŞBOĞAOĞLU

News Source: 12punto