30.10.2026 03:23
Ünal Erkan, who served as General Director of Security, State of Emergency Regional Governor, and Minister of State, died at the age of 85 in the hospital where he was receiving treatment. Erkan, known publicly as the “super governor” due to his broad powers during the most intense years of the fight against terrorism, will be buried in Gölbaşı Cemetery after the funeral prayer to be held in Ankara on Friday.
Ünal Erkan, one of the well-known names in the Turkish security bureaucracy and political world, has died. Erkan, who had a career spanning from the Istanbul and Ankara police departments to the Ministry of State, was mourned upon his death.
HE DIED IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS BEING TREATED
Erkan, who had been receiving treatment for health problems for some time, passed away this morning. It was reported that Erkan, who served as an Ankara deputy in the 20th term, former Edirne Governor, General Director of Police, and OHAL Regional Governor, died in the hospital where he was being treated.
HE WILL BE SENT OFF ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY ON FRIDAY
A funeral ceremony will be held for Erkan on Friday at the Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque in Ankara. After the funeral prayer performed at noon, Erkan's body will be buried in the Gölbaşı Cemetery.
WHY WAS HE KNOWN AS THE “SUPER GOVERNOR”?
In public opinion, the phrase “super governor” was used for OHAL regional governors due to their broad powers. The first person to bear this title was Hayri Kozakçıoğlu. Erkan, who served as OHAL Regional Governor during the period when terrorist incidents were most intense, took over this Diyarbakır-centered post after Necati Çetinkaya and continued it between 1992 and 1995.
WHO IS ÜNAL ERKAN?
Ünal Erkan was born in Erzurum in 1942. After graduating from the Police Academy, he held posts at the Ankara and Istanbul police departments, the Edirne Governorship, and the General Directorate of Police. Erkan, who served as General Director of Police between July 9, 1991 and February 18, 1992, replaced Necati Bilican in this post and was succeeded by Yılmaz Ergun.
FROM BUREAUCRACY TO POLITICS
In 1995, Erkan resigned from his post at the same time as Mehmet Ağar and Hayri Kozakçıoğlu and joined the ranks of the DYP. Elected as a deputy from Ankara in the December 24, 1995 elections, Erkan served as a 20th-term deputy until April 18, 1999. During the 53rd Government (ANAYOL), formed under the prime ministership of Mesut Yılmaz, he served as Minister of State between March 6 and June 28, 1996.
Erkan, who later continued his political career in the MHP, took part in the party's Central Executive Board and resigned from this post in 2007.
HIS NAME APPEARED IN THE 1987 MİT REPORT
Erkan's name also appeared in the controversial report prepared in 1987 by MİT officer Mehmet Eymür. In the report, it was alleged that high-level figures such as Erkan, as well as Nevzat Ayaz and Mehmet Ağar, had ties to the mafia. There is no judicial ruling issued against Erkan regarding the allegations in question.
Ünal Erkan was married and a father of three children.