DEM Party MP Dilan Kunt Ayan has submitted a parliamentary inquiry concerning the investigation of unsolved crimes in Turkey. The inquiry is addressed to Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek and specifically raises the question of whether old cases of murder, enforced disappearance, and extrajudicial killings will be re-examined. The trigger for the inquiry is a newly created department within the Ministry of Justice. It has been established under the General Directorate of Criminal Affairs and, according to official statements, is intended to coordinate investigations into so-called “unsolved crimes.”
Ayan expresses doubts as to whether this structure can genuinely contribute to a comprehensive reckoning. In her inquiry, she points out that murders by unknown perpetrators, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings have constituted a structural problem for decades, particularly in Kurdish provinces during the 1990s. Many of these cases were never consistently pursued. Instead, they were often concluded through statutes of limitations, dismissals, or acquittals. This, the MP argues, has led to a deeply entrenched culture of impunity.
At the same time, Ayan criticizes the lack of a clear operational framework for the new department. It remains unclear which cases will be examined, what powers it holds, and according to which criteria it will operate. Transparent reporting on the authority’s activities is also not currently envisaged. In her inquiry, Ayan refers to key cases that remain unresolved to this day, including the murder of Kurdish intellectual Musa Anter in 1992 and the killing of lawyer Tahir Elçi in 2015. Cases linked to the unofficial military intelligence structure JITEM are also mentioned.
Furthermore, the politician addresses so-called “suspicious deaths,” including cases classified as suicides and incidents of violence against women where doubts exist regarding the official account. She also takes up the demands of the relatives of the disappeared, particularly the “Saturday Mothers.” Specifically, Ayan requests information on whether previously closed cases—such as those terminated due to statutes of limitations or insufficient evidence—can be reopened.
Ayan also raises the question of whether the new department will have expanded powers for evidence collection, access to state archives, and the investigation of the responsibility of public officials. The inquiry thus raises fundamental questions about the role of the judiciary in dealing with historical crimes. Whether the newly established department can truly mark a break with the existing practice of impunity remains uncertain.
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