The arrest of Salim Güran, the uncle of missing 8-year-old Narin Güran, on charges of deprivation of liberty and intentional murder has intensified focus on Turkey’s growing problem of missing children. Narin has been missing since 21 August, when she disappeared in the Çulî neighbourhood of Diyarbakır’s (Amed) Bağlar (Rezan) district. The case has prompted a broader discussion about the inadequacy of child protection measures in the country.
Güran, who also serves as the local village head, was arrested after evidence linked him to Narin’s disappearance, including her DNA found in his vehicle and contradictions in his statements. Güran admitted to deleting WhatsApp messages and provided conflicting accounts of his activities on the day Narin went missing. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.
The investigation led to a media blackout imposed on 29 August by the Diyarbakır 5th Criminal Court of Peace to protect the integrity of the inquiry. This came after eight individuals were arrested and bloodstains were found near Narin’s home, which are being analysed.
Narin’s disappearance is not an isolated incident; it has exposed broader concerns about child safety in Turkey. The Children and Women First Association has criticised the authorities’ response to missing children cases, highlighting a significant gap in data. The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) last reported on missing children in 2016, revealing that 104,531 children were reported missing between 2008 and 2016. Since then, no new official data has been released, leaving the current scale of the problem unknown. “Why has there been no data on missing children since 2016?” asked lawyer Müjde Tozbey, who represents the association.
Political criticism has also emerged from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chair of the DEM Party, criticised the government for failing to find Narin despite its extensive surveillance capabilities. “Every corner of Amed is filled with cameras, and the government mobilises all its power to prevent people from gathering,” he said. “Yet, every hour that passes without finding Narin deepens our pain.” Bakırhan added that the party has expressed solidarity with the Güran family and continues to support efforts to locate the missing girl. “Narin’s disappearance is unacceptable. We urge judicial and administrative authorities to fulfil their duties properly. We cannot bear to lose another child,” he stated, asking, “Where is Narin Güran?”
Concerns have also been raised about the exploitation of vulnerable children during crises. Following the 2023 February earthquakes, there were reports of religious groups taking advantage of the chaos to abduct children. Lawyer Müjde Tozbey cited instances where criminal complaints regarding the abduction of over 1,100 children by sects were filed, but all were dismissed without investigation. “We will continue to follow these cases to the end,” Tozbey emphasised. She stated that children are being deliberately handed over to religious sects by the state, which she asserts is illegal.
