01.09.2026 15:51
Former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, who was arrested in the Gülistan Doku investigation, made a statement through his lawyer. Stating that they have initiated legal proceedings regarding the news published, Sonel said, 'My forehead is clear and my conscience is at ease. Because I have not the slightest doubt about myself, my wife, or my son. I first learned of our daughter Gülistan's name when the news of her disappearance arrived. Previously, neither I nor my family had any connection whatsoever.'
As the Gülistan Doku investigation was reopened years later, the then Governor of Tunceli, Tuncay Sonel, was arrested along with his son and many others.
While no news has been received from the young girl for years, the lifeless body of Doku, who is presumed to have been killed, has still not been found. However, witness statements, cell tower records, phone examinations, and all other evidence pointed to the Sonel family.
LEGAL PROCESS INITIATED FOR NEWS REPORTS
While the public awaited the day the murder would be solved, a statement was published on Tuncay Sonel's social media account through his lawyer. Sonel stated, "Legal proceedings have been initiated by our lawyers against the news, comments, and unfounded accusations published in the written and visual press, on the internet and social media for the past 5 months regarding myself and my family, which target my family on the country's agenda and disregard the presumption of innocence."
"MY BROW IS CLEAR, MY CONSCIENCE IS AT EASE"
The statement continued as follows: "It is our greatest desire that the Gülistan Doku investigation be resolved and the truth be revealed. Because I have not the slightest doubt about myself, my wife, or my son. With God's permission, justice will prevail sooner or later. Let our friends and loved ones have not the slightest doubt about us. Thank God, our brow is clear and our conscience is at ease. We have been greatly worn out as a family during this process. We have been very upset. We have been subjected to fabrications and slanders.
"NO MATTER WHERE THE TRUTH LEADS..."
I first learned of our daughter Gülistan's name when the news of her disappearance came. Before that, neither I nor my family had any connection. We also tried to show the compassion of our State to her family, who came to Tunceli from Diyarbakır, to stand by them with good intentions, and to support them. No matter where the truth leads, I hope the facts come to light as soon as possible so that we are not subjected to unjust and unfounded accusations as a family. We will come together with our family and loved ones as soon as possible, with God's permission. With my regards and respect.
WHAT HAPPENED?
After not hearing from Gülistan Doku (21) since January 5, 2020, her family went from their hometown Diyarbakır to Dersim and filed a missing person report with the police on January 6, 2020, but the search efforts yielded no results.
In line with new information obtained, 19 suspects were detained within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "intentional killing", "aiding intentional killing", "sexual assault", "concealing/destroying evidence of a crime", "destroying/altering data by unlawfully entering an information system", "depriving a person of liberty", "failure to report a crime", and "harboring a criminal".
Among the suspects, the then Governor of Tunceli Tuncay Sonel, Tuncay Sonel's son Mustafa Türkay Sonel, former police officer Gökhan Ertok who allegedly deleted data from Doku's SIM card, the then Chief Physician of Tunceli State Hospital Çağdaş Özdemir who allegedly deleted hospital records, former Tunceli Special Provincial Administration employee Erdoğan Elaldı, Celal Altaş, Nurşen Arıkan, Ferhat Hanedan Güven, Doku's boyfriend Zeinal Abakarov, her mother Cemile Yücer, and her stepfather, former police officer Engin Yücer, Şükrü Eroğlu who served as Tuncay Sonel's protection officer at the time, and security guard Fatih Özmen were arrested. Uğurcan A., Savaş G. and Süleyman Ö., responsible for Munzur University's security cameras, B.Y. and Y.E. who allegedly deleted hospital records, and businessman O.Y. were released under judicial control with a ban on traveling abroad.
In the investigation, the fugitive suspect Umut Altaş, who was sought with a red notice, was detained in the USA.
Within the framework of the investigation conducted by the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, the then Tunceli Police Chief Yılmaz Delen was summoned to testify as a witness.
Handan Sonel, the wife of former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, and the owner of the IT company were also arrested.