On January 14, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights by dismissing 42 judges and prosecutors without granting them access to an effective legal remedy. The court concluded that these dismissals, carried out under Turkey’s controversial Law No. 6524 (2014), violated Article 6 of the Convention, which guarantees the right to a fair trial. The court awarded each of the 42 applicants €7,800 in non-pecuniary damages, along with compensation for legal fees and costs.

The Turkish Government argued that the dismissal and judicial restructuring were necessary to counter the Gülen movement, which is deemed as a terrorist organization by Ankara. The Turkish officials argued that these measures were critical in preserving judicial impartiality and protecting national security. The ECtHR rejected this defense of the Turkish government and affirmed the dismissed officials’ right to challenge their dismissals in court.

Turkey’s Law No. 6524, enacted in February 2014, restructured the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), leading to the dismissal of numerous judicial officials. This also included Adem Kartal, former vice president of the HSYK’s inspection board. In March 2024, the ECtHR ruled that Turkey violated Kartal’s rights by terminating his position under a specific provision of the law.

The Law No. 6524 was deemed to be the Turkish government’s broader response to corruption investigations in December 2013 which targeted Erdoğan’s supporters. The measures included the removal of key HSYK personnel, such as secretaries-general and inspection board members. While the Turkish Constitutional Court later annulled 19 provisions of Law No. 6524 for violating the Turkish Constitution, it also ruled that the annulment would not apply retroactively. This decision left the dismissed officials without reinstatement or compensation.

Since the attempted coup in 2016, more than 1,700 lawyers have been prosecuted, 700 held in pretrial detention, and 553 sentenced to a combined 3,380 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. Additionally, over 4,000 judges and prosecutors have been disbarred. A report published in February 2024 revealed Turkey’s misuse of counterterrorism law targeting lawyers by unfair trials, arbitrary detentions, imprisonment and harassment. In 2024 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index Turkey ranked 117th out of 142. The ECHR’s recent ruling further emphasized the ongoing decline of judicial independence and fair trial standards in Turkey.