Police to establish new unit for unsolved murder cases

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Using new technology, the police will re-examine existing evidence and will also look for new evidence, Anadolu Agency said. AA photo

The Police Department will establish a new unit which will mainly work toward resolving the “unsolved murders” in Turkey.

Many unsolved murders, such as the killings of prominent journalists Uğur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kışlalı will be investigated again through this unit, the Anadolu Agency reported on Nov.11, without elaborating on whether the unit would also handle cases already subject to statute of limitations.

The new unit will be formed in all provinces and will work under the Public Order Directorates, with expert police officers on various fields, reviewing unknown murder cases in order to find deficiencies and mistakes concerning the investigation phases. If needed, police officers will ask for new testimonies from witnesses and suspects.

Using new technology, the police will re-examine existing evidence and will also look for new evidence, Anadolu said.

Back in early 2012, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) presented a report on the issue to a sub-commission of the Parliament’s Human Rights Inquiry Commission.

According to the report, the number of unsolved murders through 1990-2011 was 1,901. These murders, as well as the overall violation of human rights, were at their peak particularly in 1992, 1993 and 1994, TİHV member Coşkun Üsterci then explained. 

“When we look at why the number rose in these years, we encounter the Kurdish issue. Grave violations of human rights began when the state resorted to counter-guerilla methods,” Üsterci was quoted, telling the parliamentary commission at the time.