Interpol Lawyer in Turkey

Turkey is one of the most active Interpol member states in the region, both as a country that issues Interpol notices and as a jurisdiction where foreign-issued notices have significant real-world consequences. With 49 of our clients holding a Turkish connection — whether as Turkish nationals, foreign nationals residing in Turkey, or individuals with active criminal cases originating from Turkey — we have deep expertise in the specific legal landscape that applies here.

Turkey co-operates fully with Interpol’s notice system. This means that individuals who enter Turkey while subject to a Red Notice, Diffusion, or even a Blue Notice face a genuine risk of detention at the border and potential extradition proceedings. At the same time, Turkey’s own legal framework — including its Constitution, the Law on International Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters (No. 6706), and the European Convention on Extradition — provides meaningful procedural protections that an experienced lawyer can use to protect your rights.

Our Interpol defence lawyers advise on the full spectrum of Interpol-related legal issues that arise in the Turkish context, including Red Notice removal, Preventive Requests filed before an Interpol notice is issued, CCF access requests, and extradition challenges before Turkish courts.

Turkey’s National Central Bureau (NCB) — operating within the Turkish National Police — is highly active in both submitting and executing Interpol notices. Turkey issues Red Notices primarily in connection with terrorism offences (including charges under Anti-Terror Law No. 3713), organised crime, financial fraud, and political cases that have attracted international scrutiny following the 2016 coup attempt.

Key facts about Turkey’s use of Interpol:

• Turkey is a top-10 Red Notice issuing state in recent years, with a significant number of notices challenged at the CCF on human rights grounds
• Post-2016 notices — Notices issued in connection with Gülenist (FETÖ) allegations have been subject to particularly high rates of CCF challenge success, with multiple notices deleted on Article 3 (political character) grounds
• Extradition treaty network — Turkey has extradition treaties with numerous European states and the USA, meaning that a Turkish Red Notice may result in extradition proceedings outside Turkey
• Diffusion notices — Turkey frequently uses Diffusion notices (circulated bilaterally between NCBs without going through Interpol’s General Secretariat) as a supplement to formal Red Notices

If you are a Turkish national living abroad and subject to any Interpol notice or Diffusion issued by Turkey, our lawyers can assess the notice’s compliance with Interpol’s rules and advise on the most effective legal strategy.

The Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) is the independent oversight body established by Interpol’s Constitution to ensure that all data held in Interpol’s databases complies with its rules. Individuals who believe a Turkish-issued Red Notice violates Interpol’s rules — including the prohibition on politically motivated notices under Article 3 — have the right to submit a challenge to the CCF.

Grounds on which Turkish Red Notices have successfully been deleted by the CCF include:

• The criminal charges relate to political activities, journalism, participation in civil society organisations, or opposition to the government
• The individual has been granted refugee status, asylum, or subsidiary protection in a European Union member state or another third country
• The prosecution is directly linked to post-2016 events and constitutes persecution on grounds of alleged membership of FETÖ or other proscribed organisations
• The charges amount to double jeopardy or violate the principle of legality
• The notice was issued after final judgment or acquittal in another jurisdiction

Our lawyers have successfully challenged Turkish-issued notices before the CCF and can prepare a fully documented submission on your behalf. The process typically takes 9–18 months from submission to decision, and we can advise on interim protective measures — including Preventive Requests — while the challenge is pending.

If you have reason to believe that Turkish authorities are preparing to request an Interpol Red Notice against you — for example, because you have received information about an active criminal investigation, an arrest warrant issued in absentia, or a Diffusion circulated to countries you regularly visit — you can act proactively before a formal notice is issued.

A Preventive Request is submitted to Interpol’s CCF and places your case on record. It signals to Interpol’s General Secretariat that any future notice request from the relevant member state should be scrutinised for compliance with Interpol’s rules before being published. This can significantly delay or prevent the publication of a Red Notice.

We recommend filing a Preventive Request if:

• You know there is an active criminal investigation or arrest warrant against you in Turkey
• You have left Turkey and settled abroad, and Turkish authorities are aware of your location
• You have previously been detained at a border crossing or questioned by police on the basis of a Turkish-issued notification
• You have colleagues, family members, or associates who have already had Red Notices issued against them in connection with the same case

Early action is always preferable. Contact our Interpol defence team for a confidential assessment of your situation and advice on whether a Preventive Request is appropriate in your case.

Extradition from Turkey is governed by the Law on International Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters (Law No. 6706, enacted 2016), Turkey’s bilateral extradition treaties, and Turkey’s obligations under the European Convention on Extradition. Turkish courts conduct a formal legal review of extradition requests before any surrender can take place.

Key legal protections available in Turkish extradition proceedings include:

• Dual criminality — the alleged conduct must constitute a criminal offence under Turkish law as well as under the law of the requesting state
• Political offence exception — Turkey’s courts have recognised the political offence exception in cases involving politically motivated prosecutions, though its application is inconsistent
• Human rights grounds — extradition may be refused if there is a substantial risk that the individual would be subjected to torture, inhuman treatment, or an unfair trial in the requesting state
• Turkish nationals — Turkey’s Constitution (Article 38) prohibits the extradition of Turkish citizens to foreign states, though this protection does not extend to extradition requests made through Interpol channels to third countries where the individual is located
• Time limits — individuals arrested on a Red Notice in Turkey must be brought before a court within 24 hours; extradition proceedings must be completed within defined statutory timeframes

If you are detained in Turkey on the basis of an Interpol notice or a foreign extradition request, it is essential to engage experienced Interpol defence lawyers immediately. Our team can co-ordinate with local Turkish counsel to ensure your rights are protected at every stage of the proceedings.

Intercollegium is an international law firm specialising exclusively in Interpol defence, extradition, and cross-border criminal law. Our lawyers have represented clients in Turkey and in matters involving Turkish-issued Interpol notices across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. We offer:

• CCF challenge submissions — fully documented requests for the deletion or correction of Turkish-issued Red Notices and other Interpol notices
• Preventive Request filing — proactive CCF submissions to block future notice publication
• Access Request (data disclosure) — formal requests to Interpol to disclose what data is held about you and in what notices you appear
• Extradition defence — legal representation in extradition proceedings in Turkey or in third countries responding to Turkish extradition requests
• Travel risk assessment — advice on safe travel destinations and border crossing risks based on notice status and bilateral treaty network analysis
• Emergency response — immediate legal support if you are detained at a border or arrested on an Interpol notice anywhere in the world

All consultations are strictly confidential. To speak with an Interpol defence lawyer about your situation in Turkey, call us at +357 96 447475 or use our online contact form.