New decision from Rojin Kabaiş's family: 'We will go to Van with her mother, I will fight for my daughter at the cost of my life'

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

Rojin Kabaiş, a first-year student in the Child Development Department at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ) Faculty of Education, went out after having dinner at the dormitory where she was staying on September 27 and was never heard from again.

On the 18th day of the search efforts, Rojin's lifeless body was found exactly 24 kilometers away from the point where she went missing. An autopsy was performed by the Forensic Medicine Institute for approximately 7 hours, and 80 samples were taken from her body for examination. The announced autopsy result stated that the cause of Rojin's death was 'drowning'.

However, when Rojin was found, there were signs of physical assault on her body. Although her family repeatedly described how excited and happy she was to have enrolled in university, rumors of suicide spread rapidly regarding her death. At this point, seven months after the family received the painful news, all their questions remain unanswered, and Rojin's death remains suspicious.

Father Nizamettin Kabaiş made statements to 12punto on the seventh month of Rojin's death. "I have suspected from the very beginning that they are trying to cover it up. Everything was clear, but the authorities kept insisting on suicide," said Nizamettin Kabaiş, adding, "If necessary, I will go to Van. The police, the prosecutor's office, the governor's office... We are thinking of going with her mother in the next day or two to push all the relevant authorities."

'TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED, I FEEL THE FILE IS NOT BEING HANDLED'

Speaking about the legal process, Nizamettin Kabaiş said, "They say the confidentiality order on the file continues. They say part of the file has been processed and the rest is still with the prosecutor's office. It is very difficult. I have suspected from the very beginning that they are trying to cover it up. Everything was clear, but the authorities kept insisting on suicide."

Father Nizamettin Kabaiş continued his words as follows:

"Too much time has passed. It is almost going to be forgotten. Her file has remained in the dark. I feel it is not being handled properly. I have made many appeals to the authorized bodies. There were journalists who went to the university and the student dormitory. They were not allowed in. I said it back then too, 'let the journalists do their job.' I said let them enter the university, talk to the director, to her roommates. Let them talk to whoever was closest to her. At least a clue might be caught. Today, even if someone went missing inside a house, they would have investigated the entire building. They would have taken the whole family into custody. This girl went missing at a university. Why aren't they doing it here? I have said this many times."

Stating that he and Rojin's mother visit her grave every day, Nizamettin Kabaiş said, "I miss her so much. I am suffering so much for Rojin. I am speaking now, but the words are stuck in my throat. This process is an insult to my child. Even though there are signs of assault, they still insist on suicide. Today, a university student perhaps means a future civil servant for the state. This girl was going to study for 4 years, she was going to be a teacher."

'WE WILL GO TO VAN WITH HER MOTHER'

Reacting to the investigation process, Nizamettin Kabaiş said:

"There is no one in custody, nor has anyone been dismissed from their post. They did not even dismiss or suspend the person who neglected their duty. My child did not go to the dormitory for a whole night, and they notified us the next day. Even those who are clearly guilty have not been tried. I don't know what the result will be, but if there is an injustice or lawlessness, I will put myself on the line and I will fight for my daughter at the cost of my life. If necessary, I will go to Van. The police, the prosecutor's office, the governor's office... We are thinking of going with her mother in the next day or two to push all the relevant authorities."

'AN EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATION MUST BE CONDUCTED'

Aslı Ağar, a lawyer for the Association of Children and Women First, who has been closely following Rojin Kabaiş's suspicious death from the beginning, said, "Everyone needs to be investigated as a suspect. The prosecutor's office must conduct an effective investigation so that it is not covered up. If this file is closed this way, it will pose a threat to the safety of other women as well."

Speaking to 12punto, Ağar expressed the following:

"In the autopsy report, the cause of death was given as 'drowning' and DNA samples of two men were identified. The autopsy report itself shows us that this file needs to be handled carefully and meticulously. An effective investigation must be conducted and every possibility must be taken into account. Everyone needs to be investigated as a suspect. The prosecutor's office must conduct an effective investigation so that it is not covered up.

New evidence can emerge over time. Whose DNA is this? It is said that she made searches about suicide on her phone. Someone else could have done these, for example. Every possibility must be kept in mind. This investigation should not be abandoned by calling it 'suicide.' If this file is closed this way, it will pose a threat to the safety of other women as well. We are following the file to the end."