Tuncay Sonel's remarks before Gülistan Doku's disappearance resurface: 'Our women can walk the streets comfortably'

A significant development has occurred in the investigation into Gülistan Doku, who disappeared in Tunceli in 2020 and has not been heard from since. A speech delivered by the then-Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel at a meeting on combating violence against women, held 19 days before Doku's disappearance, has drawn attention.

HE HAD SAID, "OUR WOMEN CAN WALK THE STREETS COMFORTABLY"

New details have emerged regarding the 'Coordination Plan Meeting for Combating Violence Against Women' chaired by the then-Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel on December 17, 2019. The meeting was attended by former chief physician Çağdaş Özdemir, who was arrested as part of the Gülistan Doku investigation; the then-İŞKUR Provincial Director Özdemir Aktaş, who was suspended following allegations that he pressured Doku's family after her disappearance; and several other institutional officials. At the meeting, Governor Sonel stated that women in Tunceli could walk the streets comfortably until late at night and that this created an environment of peace, saying:

"Fortunately, our women and children can walk around comfortably until late at night. I thank our heroic security forces, our gendarmerie, and our police for ensuring this environment of peace."

Sonel stated that Tunceli was an exemplary city regarding women's rights and said, "We will fight to ensure that there are no acts of violence against women." He also touched upon the stabbing death of university student Ceren Özdemir in Ordu on December 4, 2019. Emphasizing social responsibility, he said, "This saddens us all. I hope such inhumane incidents do not occur in Tunceli or other provinces." Sonel also expressed at the meeting that they were discussing what steps should be taken to combat violence against women.

SEVERAL SUSPECTS HAD BEEN ARRESTED

The investigation launched after Gülistan Doku's disappearance led to significant arrests. As part of the investigation, Erdoğan Elaldı, a former employee of the Provincial Special Administration who was identified as the last person to have contact with Doku before she disappeared, was arrested on charges of 'intentional killing'. Doku's former boyfriend Zeinal Abarakov, members of Abarakov's family, and various public officials were also arrested for crimes such as concealing and destroying evidence. Former chief physician Çağdaş Özdemir, who was detained over allegations that Gülistan Doku's hospital records were deleted, was another key figure arrested.

Tuncay Sonel's name also came up during the investigation. Sonel was arrested on charges including 'concealing criminal evidence', 'obstructing data in an information system', and 'damaging, destroying, or concealing an official document'. As investigations conducted immediately after Doku's disappearance deepened, suspicions grew regarding certain public officials and suspects in Tunceli.

Other individuals arrested or named as suspects in the investigation following Gülistan Doku's disappearance include Şükrü Eroğlu, who was the close bodyguard of the then-Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, former İŞKUR Provincial Director Özdemir Aktaş, and several people connected to the suspects. Additionally, some security personnel in Tunceli were also questioned as part of the investigation.