09.11.2026 11:24
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that, under the coordination of the Department of Investigation of Unsolved Crimes, 80 murders in 73 files had been removed from the status of unsolved. Five missing-person cases that had remained unsolved for 6 to 23 years in Manisa, Ankara, Batman, Aydın, and Istanbul were reopened. During the operations, 28 suspects were detained and 6 suspects were arrested.
DNA analyses, criminal reports, HTS and base station records, and License Plate Recognition System data were re-examined in the files of 5 people who disappeared years ago. The investigations are being conducted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices of Alaşehir, Ankara Batı, Kozluk, Söke, and Istanbul.
“IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT HIS FAMILY IS WAITING FOR AN ANSWER”
In a post on his X account, Minister Gürlek said, “The passage of years since a person’s disappearance does not change the fact that their family is waiting for an answer. A re-examined piece of evidence, a new witness statement, or a newly emerged finding may be decisive in shedding light on events that remain in the dark.”
Stating, “We are evaluating DNA analyses, criminal investigation reports, HTS and base station records, License Plate Recognition System data, and witness statements together, making use of developing technological capabilities. We continue our work meticulously so that new connections emerging in files from past years are not overlooked and no detail is ignored,” Minister Gürlek shared information about the files handled, saying, “Under the coordination of our Department of Investigation of Unsolved Crimes within our Ministry, 5 separate files in Manisa, Ankara, Batman, Aydın, and Istanbul were re-examined in cooperation with our Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices and law enforcement units.”
Here are the files that Minister Gürlek announced had been solved:
11-YEAR MISSING PERSON FILE IN ALAŞEHİR: 4 REMANDED IN CUSTODY
In the investigation conducted on suspicion of murder regarding the fate of Cennet Arıkan, who has been missing in the Alaşehir district of Manisa since 2015, the suspects’ communications and movements on the date of the incident were re-examined. In the work of the Alaşehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, data indicating that the suspects were in the same or nearby areas were obtained through forensic analysis of HTS and base station records. Of the 5 suspects taken into custody, 4 were remanded in custody.
SKULL FOUND IN GÖLBAŞI IDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA
In the file of Uğur Şimşek, who disappeared in Ankara in 2020 after coming to Ankara from Sivas, DNA examination of a human skull found in Gölbaşı in 2021 determined that it belonged to Şimşek. In the investigation conducted by the Ankara Batı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, phone records and License Plate Recognition System data were evaluated. In line with the evidence obtained, 1 suspect was remanded in custody.
OPERATION IN BATMAN AFTER 12 YEARS: 10 DETAINED
In the file of Ekrem Bakar, who disappeared in the Kozluk district of Batman in 2014 and was declared legally absent, information was obtained suggesting that Bakar may have been killed and buried in a rural area. Upon the instruction of the Kozluk Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, witness statements and communication records were examined. Of the 10 suspects taken into custody in simultaneous operations held in Batman and Antalya, 1 was remanded in custody.
7 DETAINED IN 23-YEAR-OLD FILE IN SÖKE
In the file of Elife Doğrul, from whom no news has been received since 2003 in the Söke district of Aydın, statements from past years regarding her disappearance and new information raising the possibility of murder were evaluated. In line with the findings obtained in the investigation conducted by the Söke Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 7 suspects were caught and taken into custody.
7-YEAR-OLD MISSING PERSON FILE IN ISTANBUL: 6 DETAINED
In the file of Sefa Soyalp, who disappeared in Istanbul in 2019 after coming to Istanbul from Kırıkkale, the people he lived with and contacted during the period when he was last seen were investigated. In line with the instructions of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, phone and HTS records were examined. In the operation organized based on the findings obtained, 6 suspects were taken into custody.
“WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOBILIZE ALL OUR MEANS”
Thanking the chief public prosecutor's offices, police and gendarmerie organizations, AFAD teams, and public officials involved in the investigations, Gürlek included the following statements at the end of his statement:
“I thank our Alaşehir, Ankara Batı, Kozluk, Söke, and Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, which conducted the investigations meticulously; our police and gendarmerie organizations, AFAD teams, and all public officials who contributed.
No matter how much time has passed, we will continue to mobilize all our means to determine the fate of our missing citizens, ensure the identification of those responsible, and stand by our families waiting for justice.”