During a recent cleanup operation at the Ankara Courthouse’s judicial evidence depot, a significant historical document has come to light. The document, identified as a ‘Crime Evidence Register’ dating back to 1926, was discovered among older materials. This unique find, written in both Ottoman and Latin scripts, provides a rare glimpse into the early judicial practices of the Turkish Republic.
Historical Artifact Status Confirmed
Experts from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism conducted an initial assessment of the register, confirming its status as a historical artifact. Following this designation, the document has been officially registered, prohibiting its removal from the country. Its dual-script nature makes it a particularly valuable transitional document, reflecting both the legal and historical shifts of its era.
Restoration Efforts Underway
The Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office, which actively used this ‘Crime Evidence Register’ in its time, has initiated efforts to restore the document. Paper restorers will undertake meticulous work to preserve its original condition, ensuring that this legal heritage is safeguarded for future generations.
Insights from the Discovery
Mehmet Semih Demir, Director of the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office Judicial Evidence Bureau, provided further details on the discovery. “During the liquidation process in our depots, we identified this register, and the Ministry of Culture’s report confirmed its origin from 1926,” Demir stated. “As the Ministry of Justice and the Ankara Courthouse, we have launched the necessary initiatives to protect this century-old institutional memory. We have secured this valuable heritage in coordination with relevant ministries.”
This discovery is expected to offer invaluable insights into the legal framework, administrative processes, and societal context of the early Republican period in Turkey. The register’s contents, detailing crime evidence records, will contribute significantly to understanding the evolution of Turkish law and justice.
A Glimpse into Early Republican Justice
The ‘Crime Evidence Register’ serves as a massive “institutional memory,” capturing the judicial evidence procedures, crime records, and legal terminology of its time. Its preservation will allow researchers and historians to study firsthand how the justice system operated during a pivotal period in Turkish history, bridging the Ottoman and Republican eras.
The meticulous restoration process will ensure that the delicate pages and historical inscriptions are preserved. Once restored, the register will be made accessible for academic research, contributing to a deeper understanding of Turkey’s legal heritage and its transition to a modern state.
