ARREST WARRANT
Gülistan Doku case: 'We are searching for the truth, not a killer'
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A court has issued an arrest warrant for the stepfather of the chief suspect of the disappearing of Gülistan Doku (21) in the southeastern Dersim province in early 2020.
A case was filed against Ergin Y., the stepfather of Doku's friend Z.A., for his social media posts revealing private information about the missing woman. He is accused of intending to "creating a perception that she had committed suicide."
Because of those posts, Ergin Y. was dismissed as a police officer in January for violating the confidentiality of the investigation.
CLICK - 'Gülistan can't be found dead or alive in such a tiny city'
NOTE: Gülistan Doku was studying at Dersim's Munzur University. She was never heard from again after leaving her dormitory on January 5, 2020. Her family has been asking what happened to her for 649 days.
Doku's family and attorneys attended the fourth hearing of the case at the Tunceli Courthouse. The court issued an arrest warrant for Ergin Y., who didn't attend any hearing. The next hearing will be held on December 2.
"I won't leave Gülistan in the dark"
Speaking to bianet about the case, Gülistan's sister Aygül Doku said, We insisted that he should come [to the hearings] and this decision was given."
Addressing the Ministry of Justice, she said, "Provide justice. Is it justice that Gülistan could not be found for 649 days? Is it justice that not men but we are put on trial?"
"I'm looking for my sister and also standing trial. I don't know what to say about this.
"They don't look for the chief suspect. This is evident. Gülistan has been in the dark for 649 days and I don't want to leave my sister in the dark. This is why I want everyone to do their duties.
"There are serious doubts about this family and these doubts need to be clarified. Why did this family leave the city suddenly? We are not looking for a killer. Doubts should be cleared. What happened to Gülistan? We want this to be revealed.
"We want those responsible, whoever caused Gülistan to disappear, to be held accountable before justice. I'm standing trial for saying this. I'm addressing the minister of justice. Can he look his children in the face when he goes home? He can look only if justice is served."
What happened?University student Gülistan Doku did not return to the Credit and Dormitories (KYK) Women's Dormitory on January 5, 2020. As her roommates could not reach her by phone, they got worried and appealed to the Tunceli Provincial Directorate of Security. Her family was also informed about the issue. The family came to Dersim on January 6 and reported Gülistan Doku missing at the security directorate. Consulting her friends and tracking the signals of her mobile phone, police officers also examined the city surveillance cameras and found that she got on the university minibus at the bus stop in Atatürk Neighborhood at 11.29. However, even though the city surveillance cameras along the way were examined, it could not be determined where she got off. The driver of the minibus was identified and summoned to depose. The driver said that the minibus did not enter the university as it was Sunday, the minibus returned empty and he could not remember where Gülistan Doku got off. It is speculated that Doku got off at Sarı Saltuk Bridge in the city center, the only bus stop outside the sight of surveillance cameras. Thanks to the struggle of women and the Doku family, the authorities decided to drain the water of the dam to find her. On June 17, a petition was submitted to the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to arrest Zeınal Abarakov, the chief suspect of the file. On August 29, the expert report was completed. Afterwards, Ali Çimen, the attorney of the Doku family, made another application for the arrest of Abaravakov. Rejecting this request, the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office decided to take his deposition. On August 4, the expert review of the footage that allegedly shows Gülistan Doku jumping off a bridge was completed. According to the review by the National Criminal Bureau firm, what is seen in the footage is not Doku jumping off the Dinar Bridge, where she was last seen, but "residual pixels." "The effect on the bridge abutment is a pixel residue and definitely not a water column created by a person or object that falls into the water," the report concluded. In a statement released by the Tunceli Governor's Office on August 18, 2020, it was announced that the search efforts ongoing in the dam ended. Coordinated by Governor's Office, search efforts started in the dam again on October 15. |
(EMK/VK)