Turkey reopens major cold case investigations into high-profile murders

Under the coordination of Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Turkish prosecutors have launched renewed investigations into several high-profile unsolved murder and suspicious death cases that have shaped the country's recent history.

Key cases being revisited include the 1993 assassination of journalist Uğur Mumcu and the 2002 murder of academic Necip Hablemitoğlu. In the Hablemitoğlu case, Enver Altaylı is named as a defendant in the indictment, with allegations involving contact between FETÖ and Altaylı to obstruct Hablemitoğlu’s activities. Additionally, the investigation into the 2009 helicopter crash that killed BBP founder Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu is being re-examined.

In a separate development regarding the long-unsolved 1998 murder of 15-year-old Çağla Tuğaltay, forensic experts have utilized modern technology to re-examine evidence. New DNA testing on the victim's clothing has identified biological traces from a male that match DNA profiles previously found under the victim's fingernails. This match provides a significant new lead in the 26-year-old investigation.