This report examines the allegation that, in Turkey, powers relating to criminal law and criminal procedure have been diverted from their original purposes and used as a means to enforce political loyalty, restrict opposition and neutralise certain social groups, particularly in relation to certain opposition political actors, civil society representatives and religious communities. The report’s central thesis is that the problem is not merely a matter of isolated breaches of the law or erroneous judicial decisions; rather, there is a broader pattern of practice in which criminal charges are shaped not by the act itself or individual responsibility, but by affiliation, political stance and one’s relationship with those in power.

The report’s key conclusion is as follows: when the law is used to compel individuals to demonstrate loyalty on the basis of their political or social affiliations, rather than to assess their specific, legally defined actions, it ceases to be a guarantor of justice. For this reason, it is essential that the principles of personalised evidence, concrete suspicion of a crime, proportionality, the presumption of innocence and judicial independence are fully applied in investigations and prosecutions; that the transformation of severe protective measures into instruments of punishment or purging is prevented; and that the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are implemented not only in relation to individual applications but also through general measures designed to resolve the systemic problem.