Turkish Law in EnglishTÜRKİYE
Constitution of the Republic of Türkiye

Article 137: J. Unlawful orders

PART TWO: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES › CHAPTER TWO: Executive 1. President of the Republic

A person employed in public services, in whatever position or status, who finds an order given by his or her superior to be contrary to the provisions of a regulation, Presidential decree, law or the Constitution, shall not carry it out and shall inform the person giving the order of this inconsistency. However, if the superior insists on the order and renews it in writing, the order shall be executed; in this case, the person executing the order shall not be held responsible.

An order which in itself constitutes an offence shall under no circumstances be executed; the person who executes such an order shall not escape responsibility.

Exceptions designated by law relating to the execution of military duties and the protection of public order or public security in urgent situations are reserved.

Original Turkish text

MADDE 137 · J. Kanunsuz emir

Kamu hizmetlerinde herhangi bir sıfat ve suretle çalışmakta olan kimse, üstünden aldığı emri, yönetmelik, Cumhurbaşkanlığı kararnamesi, kanun veya Anayasa hükümlerine aykırı görürse, yerine getirmez ve bu aykırılığı o emri verene bildirir. Ancak, üstü emrinde ısrar eder ve bu emrini yazı ile yenilerse, emir yerine getirilir; bu halde, emri yerine getiren sorumlu olmaz.

Konusu suç teşkil eden emir, hiçbir suretle yerine getirilmez; yerine getiren kimse sorumluluktan kurtulamaz.

Askeri hizmetlerin görülmesi ve acele hallerde kamu düzeni ve kamu güvenliğinin korunması için kanunla gösterilen istisnalar saklıdır.

Text as of 1 October 2026 · Official source (Turkish): mevzuat.gov.tr ↗

Unofficial translation for information only. The Turkish text published in the Official Gazette is the only authoritative version. This page is not legal advice.