15.04.2026 19:30
Justice Minister Akin Gürlek, regarding the detention of Mustafa Türkay Sonel, the son of former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, in the investigation into the disappearance of Gülistan Doku, said, "Individuals are not important here. Is there a crime or not, is there a suspect or not? There is. The profession, rank, or duty of individuals is not important at all."
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek responded to journalists' questions at the Parliament upon his arrival at the AK Party Parliamentary Group Meeting.
When a journalist reminded him of the investigation into university student Gülistan Doku, who has been missing since January 5, 2020, in Tunceli, and asked, "After waiting for 6 years, it was reopened upon your instruction, wasn't it?" Gürlek replied as follows:
"Not upon our instruction. It was an incident that occurred in 2020 and did not satisfy the public conscience. It had been classified as an unsolved case. Our chief prosecutor came to me and said he had gathered evidence. We have no discretionary power. It is entirely being conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. There are strong suspicions here; our chief prosecutor worked very meticulously on the file, told us about it, and procedures were carried out. A young girl brutally... It is not even clear whether she was killed or not. This is an act that wounds the public conscience. This investigation must be pursued to the end. We have no authority; we cannot give instructions to the prosecutor's office."
"WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO GIVE INSTRUCTIONS"
When reminded of his statement regarding the investigation, "To the end, wherever it may lead," Gürlek said, "The investigation process is ongoing, there is a detention process, there are people in detention. Detention periods are ongoing, evidence is probably being gathered, but as the Minister of Justice, we have no authority to intervene in the investigation or give instructions."
Minister Gürlek emphasized that, considering the wound this investigation has created in society, pursuing this investigation and uncovering some of the suspects is very important.
"INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT IMPORTANT"
When reminded that Mustafa Türkay Sonel, the son of the then Governor of Tunceli, Tuncay Sonel, was also detained, Gürlek stated, "Individuals are not important here. Is there a crime or not, is there a suspect or not? There is. The profession, rank, or duty of individuals is not important at all."