Gülistan Doku

On January 22, 2020, I traveled to Tunceli to investigate the disappearance of Gülistan Doku, accompanied by our then-Group Deputy Chairman Özgür Özel, our Deputy Chairman Veli Ağbaba, Tunceli MP Polat Şaroğlu, and the rest of our team. We held meetings with the relevant individuals and her family. We also conducted inspections around the dam and the bridge. We even walked across the bridge several times, concluding that a suicide incident was unlikely. Despite two weeks having passed since her disappearance, competent technicians and divers on boats patrolling the dam were continuing their search. Among ourselves, we emphasized that "the searches were futile" and that "the possibility of this being another femicide could not be ignored." It was even considered that human traffickers might be involved. 

The helplessness of Tuncay Sonel, who served as the appointed trustee mayor of Tunceli and as the governor of Tunceli for 3 years, was being talked about even on the streets! The public's anger toward the Governor, as the highest state authority, was palpable. A feeling that the incident was being investigated as if it were being brushed aside had gripped Tunceli.

Other parties and non-governmental organizations had sent delegations multiple times to shed light on the incident. The issue had been constantly and persistently addressed for years by the CHP Chairman, Deputy Chairmen, Group Deputy Chairmen, and MPs. It was brought to the parliamentary agenda through parliamentary questions submitted to the authorities, and a parliamentary inquiry motion was even submitted by the DEM Party group with the support of opposition parties. The inquiry motion was rejected by the votes of AKP and MHP MPs. Ultimately, it was just about the disappearance and death of a university student. Why is a parliamentary inquiry motion rejected? Can we say that the Ministry of Interior of that day and other high-level officials did not intervene?

Now, at the point we have reached today, shouldn't we ask the MPs who were elected to protect the rights of the people back then? Is your conscience clear?

Gülistan Doku's mother, Bedriye Doku, was constantly lamenting in both Turkish and Kurdish, "justice, justice, justice," first around the Munzur River and the dam, and later in front of the Governor's Office. These laments and the demand for justice have not ceased for 6 years.

Every time, she repeated to state officials and the people's representatives hundreds of times: "Gülistan did not leave my side. She did not disappear from my home." "I sent her to school so she would be useful to the state and the nation, so she would serve." "She disappeared from the dormitory where she was staying, under the state's care."

During our third visit on January 21, 2022, her laments and cries had not diminished; her pain had only grown. Showing her daughter's photograph, her only wish was for "the culprits to be found," "for her to have a grave," and "to be able to recite a Fatiha for her."

At the point we have reached today, we are facing a country administration that is drifting toward a mafia-like structure, extending up to the Governor and even higher levels. Hundreds of unexplained judicial incidents, murders, and mafia and drug-related events are clear evidence that our country is not being governed, or rather, is being governed very poorly.

Violence occurring in our educational institutions—at the primary, middle, high school, and university levels—is among the most tragic indicators of the state our country has reached. 

Bedriye Doku, who could not attend school and could barely speak proper Turkish at the beginning, was lamenting: "I sent my lamb to school so she would serve this country, so she would be useful...". The meaning of these words is very deep and significant... For those who understand.

The great Atatürk said, "It is education that makes a nation live as a free, independent, glorious, and high-standing community; or it leaves it to captivity and misery." The picture brought about by the efforts to raise a reactionary, bigoted, vengeful, and religious generation in education is clear.

We must also not forget the words of the great Atatürk: "Protecting the homeland begins with protecting the children." We must understand that we cannot protect our homeland without protecting our children, our women, all living beings, the gains of the Republican era, our lakes, our rivers, our seas, and our underground and surface resources.

The primary duty of the state is to protect our people and our homeland. "How will we break the desire and feeling of going abroad" in the minds of our children and youth? Despite everything, we will succeed by eliminating all these negatives and by getting rid of those who brought our country to this point while remaining within democratic rules.

As Bertolt Brecht said, "There is no salvation alone; either all together or none of us."

With a loud voice, "Happy April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day!"

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR