Turkey Justice Minister Announces Solving of 2016 Diyarbakır Murder

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that the 2016 homicide of 22‑year‑old Mehmet Emin Karaalp in Çermik, Diyarbakır, has been solved after a decade of investigation. DNA profiling and advanced HTS analysis of cigarette butts recovered at the scene linked eight suspects to the crime. The Joint Armed Services Anti‑Terror (JASAT) team, coordinated by the Ergani and Çermik public prosecutor offices, executed a simultaneous operation that placed all eight individuals in custody. Gürlek highlighted the cooperation between the Interior Ministry and the President’s leadership in re‑examining cold cases, stating that “time will not protect perpetrators.” He thanked the JASAT units, the Faili Meçhul Crimes Investigation Directorate, the local gendarmerie, and forensic institutions for their role in bringing the case to light.