Turkey launches sixth wave of arrests in Gulistan Doku disappearance probe

September 13, 2026 at 12:20 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 11 suspects, including retired and active police officers, in seven provinces on Friday as part of the sixth wave of operations in the investigation into the 2020 disappearance of university student Gulistan Doku. The operation targets allegations of evidence tampering and interference in the inquiry, which has drawn renewed attention after Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said her body may have been destroyed with chemicals.

Key Facts

Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office ordered simultaneous detention, search, and seizure operations against 11 suspects in seven provinces.
The suspects include retired and active police officers accused of evidence tampering and interference in the investigation.
This is the sixth wave of operations in the investigation into Gulistan Doku's disappearance on January 5, 2020, in Tunceli.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek recently stated that the possibility of Doku's body being completely destroyed using chemical substances is being evaluated.

Operation Details

The Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched the operation based on allegations that evidence was tampered with and the investigation process was interfered with. Simultaneous operations were conducted at identified addresses in seven provinces, including detention, searches, and seizure of materials. The operation focuses on how evidence was collected and how the investigation was conducted in the earlier stages of the case.

Investigation Background

Gulistan Doku, a student in the Child Development Department at Munzur University, disappeared on January 5, 2020, in Tunceli. No news has been received from Doku since that date, and her family and lawyers have continued to demand an effective investigation for years. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek recently said that finding Doku's body is one of the most important issues and that the possibility of the body being completely destroyed using chemical substances is being evaluated.