Gülistan Doku, a 21-year-old university student in the city of Tunceli (Dersim) in Turkey, has been missing for 239 days. The search for her was officially ended on 18 August.

Last week, Doku’s family launched a sit-in action in protest over this. Gülistan’s sister and mother were detained for participating in the sit-in.

Women gathered in Istanbul to demand that the search for Gülistan should be restarted, and that Zainal Abarakov, the suspect, should be tried.

The Justice Commission for Gülistan Doku made a press statement in front of Kadıköy Süreyya Opera House regarding her fate. Gülistan has been missing since 5 January in Tunceli (Dersim).

The women pointed out that the official search for Gülistan had been terminated.

They also criticised and opposed the detention of Gülistan’s sister, Aygül, and her mother, Bedriye, during their sit-in in Tunceli.

They also demanded a trial for Zainal Abarakov, the suspect in Doku’s case. They condemned the attitude of the government regarding the incident.

The search efforts for Gülistan Doku had been terminated on 18 August, after thirteen days of looking for her in the area around Uzunçayır Dam Lake, where the water levels had also been lowered to facilitate the search for her.

The judicial process is still ongoing.