07.06.2026 15:30
Following the commutation of Narin Güran's uncle and former headman Salim Güran's aggravated life sentence in the Narin Güran murder case, an interim headman election is being held in Diyarbakır's Tavşantepe neighborhood. Murat Kaya, who is running as the sole candidate, drew attention with his statement: "I am currently serving as Narin's headman. After Salim leaves, I will hand over the headmanship to him again." Meanwhile, by-elections are being held today in six towns and 362 neighborhoods in Tokat, Gümüşhane, and Nevşehir.
In the case regarding the murder of Narin Güran, who went missing on August 21, 2024, in the Tavşantepe neighborhood of Diyarbakır's Bağlar district and whose lifeless body was found on September 8, 2024, in the Eğertutmaz Stream, the former headman Salim Güran was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for 'intentional killing of a child as a co-perpetrator.' The sentence was also upheld by the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Following the dismissal of Salim Güran's headman duties, it was decided, in line with the Supreme Election Board's decision, to hold an interim headman election in the Tavşantepe neighborhood.
VOTING PROCESS BEGAN UNDER EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES In the neighborhood, which has 234 voters, Murat Kaya, the first member temporarily assigned to replace Salim Güran, applied as the sole candidate for the headman position. While the gendarmerie took extensive security measures in the neighborhood, the voting process, which started at 08:00, will end at 17:00.
"IN OUR HEARTS, HEADMAN SALİM GÜRAN IS ALWAYS THERE" Erhan Güran, Narin Güran's uncle who came to vote, said: "What happened to our girl Narin, what happened to our family, after my brother Salim Güran became headman and was arrested, the first member Murat Kaya was appointed as headman in his place. He is already our villager and was elected as headman. Even if a headman election is held here today, and even if Murat Kaya becomes headman, in our hearts, headman Salim Güran is always there."
"I AM CURRENTLY DOING NARİN'S HEADMANSHIP; I WILL TRANSFER IT TO SALİM WHEN HE GETS OUT" Murat Kaya, who entered the election as the sole candidate, said: "I am the headman of Tavşantepe neighborhood. They gave me the duty because Salim was imprisoned. If anyone else had applied, I would have stepped aside and given it to them. By God's will, I am currently doing Narin's headmanship. By God's will, after Salim is released, I will transfer this headmanship back to Salim. Previously, I was a headman by proxy. I have now withdrawn my candidacy for the headman election."
ELECTIONS IN 3 PROVINCES Meanwhile, interim elections are being held today in six towns and 362 neighborhoods in Tokat, Gümüşhane, and Nevşehir. In the election, which will see over 10,000 voters participate, 27 political parties are competing. Citizens in some neighborhoods of 7 districts of Istanbul also went to the polls to determine new headmen in the interim election.
Interim elections are being held to determine the mayors and municipal council members in 4 settlements in Tokat that gained town status, and one each in Gümüşhane and Nevşehir, as well as the headmen and council of elders in 362 neighborhoods. The voting start time for the interim elections is 08:00, and the closing time for the polls is 17:00. Twenty-seven political parties are participating in the interim elections to be held in the towns. As a result of the elections, mayors and municipal council members for 6 towns will be determined, as well as headmen and councils of elders in neighborhoods where elections were decided due to death, resignation, or various reasons. 10,713 voters are at the polls.
PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE WITH A JOINT CANDIDATE The People's Alliance decided to compete with a joint candidate in all 6 towns where elections will be held. Within the alliance, the AK Party nominated candidates in Tokat's Bağtaşı, Yolüstü, and Çevrecik towns, as well as Nevşehir's Mustafapaşa and Gümüşhane's Tekke towns. The MHP, on the other hand, will participate in the election with its own candidate in the Kuşçu town of Tokat's Yeşilyurt district.
Thus, the People's Alliance will go to the voters with a single-candidate formula in all towns. The CHP, on the other hand, fielded candidates in three towns: Mustafapaşa, Çevrecik, and Tekke.
In the Mustafapaşa town of Nevşehir's Ürgüp district, voters went to the polls to determine their mayors and municipal council members in the interim election.
In the ballot boxes set up in two schools in the town, the voting process began at 08:00.
In the interim election, 2,062 voters are expected to cast their votes at 7 ballot boxes established to determine the mayor and municipal council members.
ORDER OF PARTIES ON THE BALLOT In the interim election in the town, which includes 12 political party candidates and one independent candidate for the mayoralty, the political parties on the unified ballot paper are listed as follows:
"Justice and Development Party, Felicity Party, Communist Movement of Turkey, Republican People's Party, Native and National Party, İYİ Party, Key Party, New Welfare Party, Anatolia Alliance Party, Communist Party of Turkey, Independent Turkey Party, Center Right Party, Independent İlker Tura."