A forensic report has confirmed that 8-year-old Narin Güran, whose body was discovered 19 days after her disappearance in Diyarbakır (Amed), Turkey, was strangled.
The report, prepared by the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute and sent to the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, revealed that Narin’s death was caused by asphyxiation due to pressure on her neck and mouth.
According to the report, there was no conclusive evidence to determine whether Narin had been subjected to sexual assault. Her death was confirmed to have occurred on 21 August, the day she went missing. The report also noted that injuries to Narin’s body, including a severed leg, were caused by animals post-mortem.
The case has attracted widespread attention, particularly after images surfaced showing a ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP, Galip Ensarioğlu, hosting the main suspect in the murder, Salim Güran, in the Turkish Parliament. Salim, Narin’s uncle, was arrested after another suspect confessed to burying her body on his orders. Ensarioğlu’s ties to the Güran family have fuelled speculation of a cover-up, with Kurdish groups accusing the MP of obstructing the investigation.
“Those who form dirty alliances are responsible for Narin’s death,” said Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, co-chair of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), as Kurdish politicians continue to demand that Ensarioğlu be called to testify. The DBP has announced plans to file a criminal complaint against the MP, raising concerns over his involvement and the possible protection of political allies.
The case has drawn comparisons to the 1990s Susurluk scandal, which revealed deep connections between the Turkish state, organised crime and paramilitary groups. Kurdish groups have pointed to the involvement of local religious and political figures, including those linked to Hüda-Par, a party with suspected ties to Turkish Hizbullah, in the cover-up of Narin’s murder.
Despite the mounting accusations, Ensarioğlu has denied any wrongdoing, though his remarks – “there are things we know but do not say” – have only fuelled further speculation. Calls for transparency and a full investigation into the case continue to grow, with critics warning that political connections are undermining the investigation.
