12.10.2025 08:30
The body of university student Rojin Kabaiş, who went missing last year in Van and was later found dead, contained DNA from two different men. Speaking after the report prepared by the Biological Specialization Department of the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution, her father Nizamettin Kabaiş said, "My heart is burning. As a family, we have been suffering for a year. Whoever committed the murder should be found."
Rojin Kabaiş, a first-year student at the Faculty of Education of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, went missing after leaving the dormitory she was staying in on September 27 last year; her lifeless body was found on October 15 on the beach of Mollakasım Neighborhood. While the investigation is ongoing, the report prepared by the Central Biological Specialization Department of the Forensic Medicine Institution was added to the file on October 10. A joint press conference was held at the Diyarbakır Bar Association with the participation of lawyers from the Diyarbakır and Van Bar Associations. During the meeting, the prepared report was shared with the public.
"DNA OF 2 MALES DETECTED IN THE INNER REGION OF THE BREAST AND VAGINA" Speaking at the meeting, Lawyer Zeynep Demir from the Van Bar Association Women's Rights Center stated that the report indicated the presence of DNA samples belonging to two male individuals in Rojin's breast and vaginal inner region, saying, "We are following the case not only for Rojin but for all women whose evidence has been obscured. We will follow the Rojin case until the end. From the very first day, there was a perception of suicide created in the Rojin case. The file was shared with the public as if Rojin had committed suicide, with situations regarding Rojin that had not been clarified, as if they were real, through forensic reports hidden from the lawyers. At this stage, with the report sent by the Central Biological Specialization Department on October 10, it has been explained to us where the two male DNA samples, which were previously considered to be a possibility of contamination, are located on Rojin's body. The first DNA sample was found in the sternal, that is, breast area. The second DNA was found in the intravaginal, that is, the inner vaginal area. This case has been ongoing for more than a year.
"THE POSSIBILITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS EMERGED" At this stage, we see that the Forensic Medicine Institution has not evaluated what it should have prioritized a year later. As of today, we state that the possibility of sexual assault has also emerged in the file, and it should be handled in this way. This file reveals violence against women and suspicious deaths in Turkey; therefore, it is evident that the Forensic Medicine Institution has committed a crime by concealing the data it has held for a year. A criminal complaint has also been filed against the Forensic Medicine Institution in this regard within the Diyarbakır and Van Bar Associations," she said.
"WE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST THE ISTANBUL FORENSIC MEDICINE INSTITUTION" Nahit Eren, one of the lawyers of the case, stated that there has been a serious negligence, saying, "This report arrived in the first file as of November 6. However, this report clearly showed us its deficiencies from the very beginning. The report indicated that there were DNA samples belonging to two male individuals taken from different areas. However, unfortunately, there was no determination regarding which areas of Rojin's body these DNA samples were taken from. All the swab samples taken were numbered, ordered, and sent to the Istanbul Biological Specialization Department with nearly 80 swab samples. And in the report of the Istanbul Biological Specialization Department dated November 1, the report regarding the DNA samples belonging to two male individuals, as I mentioned earlier, did not provide a clear determination regarding where they were taken from. In this case, the Istanbul 1st Specialization Board prepared an incomplete report. A report prepared without obtaining information from the Biological Specialization Department regarding where the DNA samples were taken from would be incomplete, erroneous, and incorrect. And together with our Van Bar Association, a request was made to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to determine where these DNA samples were taken from.
"THEY DELAYED THE VAN CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE" Unfortunately, since January, the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Specialization Board has not responded to all correspondence. Two letters were written. As my colleagues pointed out recently, on September 25, based on the power of attorney we received from the family, we filed a criminal complaint against the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution. And what a coincidence, 15 days later, the public pressure led to the information regarding where the DNA samples were taken from being added to the file. The Specialization Board has unfortunately delayed the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by reflecting the possibility of contamination in its report without asking the Biological Specialization Department where it was taken from. This has caused the investigation to be stalled," he said.
"WHOEVER COMMITTED THE MURDER SHOULD BE FOUND" Rojin's father, Nizamettin Kabaiş, expressed his desire for his daughter's killers to be found, saying, "Both the Diyarbakır and Van Bar Associations have not left us alone. Their efforts have been ongoing for a year. Thanks to them, these statements have come to light. I have also fought because my heart is burning. We have been suffering for a year as a family. We have been suffering for a year. Whoever committed the murder should be found."