07.05.2026 11:23
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek met with the family of high school student Çağla Tuğaltay, who was killed by having her throat cut at home 26 years ago, at the ministry. Gürlek stated that, upon the family's request, the chief public prosecutor's office deemed it appropriate to conduct an "exhumation" for the four suspects who have died, and that DNA samples could be taken from the suspects if necessary.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek met with the family of high school student Çağla Tuğaltay, who was killed in her home 26 years ago, and shared the latest developments in the case. Stating that they acted upon the family's request, Gürlek announced that an exhumation order (grave opening) would be carried out for the 4 individuals who were considered suspects in the incident but have since passed away.
RECEIVED ÇAĞLA'S MOTHER AND ELDER BROTHER
While the Cold Case Crimes Investigation Department, established under the Ministry of Justice, is reexamining cases closely followed by the public in terms of technical and coordination support, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek received Çağla Tuğaltay’s mother, Gülnur Saygı Tuğaltay, her elder brother, İlker Tuğaltay, and the family’s lawyers at the Ministry of Justice.
During the meeting, Minister Gürlek offered condolences to the family and said, “This is a murder. The state must solve this murder. It must pursue it. Particularly, the death of such a young sister in the prime of her life is the state’s responsibility.”
“IF THERE IS A CRIME, THERE MUST BE A PERPETRATOR”
Stating that they would solve these murders as a state, Minister Gürlek emphasized that all resources would be mobilized, saying, “If there is a crime, there must be a perpetrator. It is our duty to solve this. In such cases, evidence must be collected while it is fresh. The fact that it was not collected then does not mean it cannot be collected now. Every trace, finding, and data considered suspicious should be reevaluated with today’s technology and conditions.”
Minister Gürlek stated that regarding the murder of Çağla Tuğaltay, upon the family’s request, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office deemed it appropriate to conduct an exhumation for the 4 deceased individuals who were suspects, and DNA samples could also be taken for new suspects.
DNA OF THOSE WHO ENTERED THE BUILDING AFTER THE MURDER WILL BE EXAMINED
Minister Gürlek stated that the DNA of 12 people who entered the building later would be examined, and the investigation authorities would evaluate whether the old homicide bureau teams had any different evidence by consulting with them.
“WE ARE ACCELERATING THE PROCESS WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE”
Referring to the newly established Cold Case Crimes Investigation Department, Minister Gürlek said, “We are not an investigation authority; we do not have the authority to give instructions to judges and prosecutors. Our colleagues are professionals in this field; those in the unit we established—the General Director, Deputy General Director, and Department Head—are professionals. We look at this with a different perspective. To accelerate and solve the process, we investigate what technical capabilities we have across all state institutions and provide them to the service of the relevant investigation authorities. Activating the relevant institutions on this matter and deciding on the necessity of procedures is entirely at the discretion of the investigation authorities.”
FAMILY THANKS MINISTER GÜRLEK
Minister Gürlek also listened to the opinions of the family members and lawyers regarding the investigation. Çağla Tuğaltay’s mother, Gülnur Saygı Tuğaltay, thanked Minister Gürlek for his sensitivity, saying, “Until now, I have always wanted to reach out, but I never received any response. Only you cared.”
Çağla Tuğaltay’s elder brother, İlker Tuğaltay, also thanked Minister Gürlek for his help.
The family members and lawyers also expressed their discomfort with insulting posts on social media.
ÇAĞLA TUĞALTAY MURDER
15-year-old high school student Çağla Tuğaltay was brutally murdered by having her throat slit in her home in Istanbul's Şişli district on June 5, 2000. The young girl's lifeless body was found when her mother returned home; no signs of theft, forced entry, or sexual assault were found at the scene.
This unsolved murder, which has remained unresolved for nearly 26 years, has occasionally come back to the agenda due to advances in DNA technology and suspect statements, but the murder suspect has not yet been caught. The case was saved from statute of limitations by legal regulations enacted in 2020, and the investigation continues to this day.