Who Is Akın Gürlek? A Brief Biography
Akın Gürlek is a Turkish jurist and bureaucrat. He was born on February 13, 1982, in Nevşehir. After graduating from Marmara University Faculty of Law, Gürlek began his career as a judge and later served as a presiding judge at high criminal courts, Deputy Minister of Justice, and Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul.
Akın Gürlek was appointed Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye by a Presidential Decree dated February 11, 2026. Due to his position as Minister of Justice, he also serves as the Chair of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Akın Gürlek |
| Date of Birth | February 13, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Place of Birth | Nevşehir, Türkiye |
| Hometown | Aylı Village, Kozaklı, Nevşehir |
| Height | 1.55 m |
| Weight | Approximately 83 kg |
| Profession | Jurist, Bureaucrat |
| Education | Graduate of Marmara University Faculty of Law |
| Spouse | Elif Gülşah Gürlek |
| Children | 1 |
Education
After completing his primary and secondary education, Akın Gürlek enrolled at Marmara University Faculty of Law. He completed his legal education and graduated in 2005.
- Marmara University Faculty of Law – Bachelor’s Degree
After graduation, Gürlek completed the judicial and prosecutorial examinations and professional training processes. He began his legal career as a trainee judge in 2007.
Legal Career
Akın Gürlek served as a judge in different regions of Türkiye during the early years of his career. He was later appointed to Istanbul and began working at high criminal courts.
During his tenure in Istanbul, Gürlek served as presiding judge at several high criminal courts and took part in numerous cases closely followed by the public. In April 2021, he was promoted to first-class judge.
High Criminal Courts Where He Served
- Presiding Judge of Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court
- Presiding Judge of Istanbul 37th High Criminal Court
- Presiding Judge of Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court
At the courts where he served, he chaired judicial panels in various proceedings concerning terrorism-related offences, state security, press cases, and public order.
Notable Cases He Presided Over
Akın Gürlek’s tenure as a high criminal court presiding judge was closely followed due to several cases that attracted widespread public attention.
The cases involving Selahattin Demirtaş and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the Progressive Lawyers Association case, the cases concerning Şebnem Korur Fincancı and Canan Kaftancıoğlu, and the trial of employees of the Sözcü newspaper were among the proceedings heard during this period.
While serving as President of Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, the court’s assessment of the Constitutional Court decision concerning Enis Berberoğlu was debated by the public and within legal circles. Gürlek also served in the case involving Can Dündar and the trial concerning the assassination of Hrant Dink.
Term as Deputy Minister of Justice
Akın Gürlek was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice on June 2, 2022. During this period, he assumed various responsibilities within the scope of the Ministry of Justice’s judicial services, legislative work, and administrative activities.
Gürlek’s term as Deputy Minister of Justice ended in October 2024 after he was appointed Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul.
Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul
Akın Gürlek was appointed Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul by a decision of the First Chamber of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors dated October 2, 2024. Before this appointment, he had been serving as Deputy Minister of Justice.
During his tenure as Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul, he oversaw numerous investigations involving terrorism, organized crime, municipalities, public institutions, and political figures. Some of these investigations led to extensive debate among the public and political circles.
Gürlek served as Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul until his appointment as Minister of Justice on February 11, 2026.
Minister of Justice
Akın Gürlek was appointed Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye by Presidential Decree No. 2026/51 dated February 11, 2026. He took over the position from Yılmaz Tunç.
Following the submission of the appointment decision to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Gürlek took the oath of office at the General Assembly on February 11, 2026, and officially began his duties.
Along with his role as Minister of Justice, Gürlek became Chair of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors. He continues to work in areas such as accelerating judicial services, establishing new courts, combating crime, and facilitating access to justice.
Positions Held by Akın Gürlek
- 2007: Began his career as a trainee judge.
- 2021: Promoted to first-class judge.
- June 2, 2022: Became Deputy Minister of Justice.
- October 2, 2024: Appointed Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul.
- February 11, 2026: Became Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye.
- February 11, 2026: Became Chair of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors.
Family Life
Akın Gürlek is married and has one child. His wife is Elif Gülşah Gürlek. Gürlek shares only limited information about his private and family life with the public.
Akın Gürlek’s Height and Weight
There is no verifiable information published by official institutions regarding Akın Gürlek’s height and weight. Since the different height and weight figures available online are not based on reliable sources, they should not be regarded as definitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Akın Gürlek
How Old Is Akın Gürlek?
Born on February 13, 1982, Akın Gürlek is 44 years old as of 2026.
Where Is Akın Gürlek From?
Akın Gürlek was born in Nevşehir.
Which University Did Akın Gürlek Graduate From?
He graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Law in 2005.
What Does Akın Gürlek Do?
Akın Gürlek, a jurist and bureaucrat, has been serving as Minister of Justice of the Republic of Türkiye since February 11, 2026.
Is Akın Gürlek Married?
Akın Gürlek is married and has one child.
When Did Akın Gürlek Become Minister of Justice?
Akın Gürlek was appointed Minister of Justice by a Presidential Decree dated February 11, 2026.
External Links
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Full Name
Akın Gürlek
Date of Birth
February 13, 1982
Age
44 years old
Zodiac Sign
Aquarius
Place of Birth
Nevşehir, Türkiye
Hometown
Aylı Village, Kozaklı, Nevşehir
Height
1.55 m
Weight
Approximately 83 kg
Profession
Jurist, Bureaucrat
Education
Graduate of Marmara University Faculty of Law
Spouse
Elif Gülşah Gürlek
You can read the Turkish version of this article here.
