Turkish military law and disputes involving armed forces personnel
Employment rights of Turkish Armed Forces personnel, dismissals, medical board reports and military offences.
- Administrative cases
- Criminal cases
Last updated: · Av. Şeref Şahin
Military law governs the rights and obligations of officers, non-commissioned officers, specialist and contracted sergeants and privates, reserve personnel and those liable for military service. Since military courts were abolished by the 2017 constitutional amendment, these disputes are now heard by the administrative courts and the ordinary criminal and civil courts.
The military personnel regime has its own rules and short deadlines. When you receive a decision on dismissal, promotion or medical fitness, note the date of notification and seek legal advice straight away.
When legal advice may be needed
- You have been dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces or your contract has been terminated
- You were denied a promotion, rank or seniority you were entitled to
- You have been removed from duty because of a medical board report
- You are accused of a military offence
- You were discharged by a disciplinary board decision
- You have problems with military service obligations, draft evasion or paid military service
Services
- Reinstatement cases (annulment actions) against dismissal and contract termination
- Promotion, rank and seniority disputes
- Objections to medical board reports and referee hospital procedures
- Defence against offences under the Military Penal Code
- Actions against Turkish Armed Forces disciplinary board decisions
- Disability retirement, and rights of martyrs’ families and veterans
- Objections to administrative fines for draft evasion and failure to report for service
- Dismissal of military students from military schools
Common questions in this area
Do military courts still exist in Turkey?
No. The 2017 constitutional amendment abolished military courts except in time of war. Administrative disputes of military personnel are heard by the administrative courts, and military offences by the ordinary criminal courts.
I was dismissed because of a medical report. What can I do?
You can file a case in the administrative courts against the report and the decision based on it. If necessary, the court may ask an independent medical institution for an expert examination. The deadline starts from notification of the dismissal decision.
Which courts try military offences?
The Military Penal Code is still in force; offences under it are now tried by the criminal courts of first instance and the high criminal courts.
My contract was terminated. Can I claim compensation?
If the termination was unlawful, a full remedy claim for lost salary and employment rights can be filed together with the annulment action. The grounds and procedure of the termination must be examined separately in each case.