After 19 days of intensive searching, Turkish authorities found the body of eight-year-old Narin Goran, whose case garnered significant sympathy across the country, hidden inside a bag at the bottom of the Aftutmaz River in Diyarbakir province. Narin disappeared on August 21 in the village of Tavsantepe, prompting security forces to launch an intensive search operation, which ended with the discovery of her body in the Saridali area, two kilometers from her home.
Investigations revealed that Narin was killed elsewhere and then her body was transported to the river to conceal it. After “strong suspicions” emerged, the authorities arrested the child’s uncle, Selim Goran, as DNA tests showed evidence of Narin in his car, reinforcing the hypothesis of his involvement in the heinous crime.
Commenting on this crime that shook public opinion, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a poignant statement on his “X” platform account, saying, “I pray for mercy on our daughter Narin, whose body was found this morning. The sad news about Narin, who was brutally murdered, has inflicted a deep wound on us all; there is no way to describe our sorrow.”
The Turkish president added: “Since the report of our sensitive daughter’s disappearance, our security forces have made great efforts to find her alive. However, unfortunately, after 19 days of searching, no heartwarming news reached us.” He continued: “We will ensure that those who killed Narin are held accountable before justice.”
Erdoğan concluded his statement with a firm vow: “I will personally follow the judicial proceedings to ensure that those who took our innocent child from us receive the harshest penalty they deserve.”
This crime further underscores the challenges Turkey faces in combating crimes against children, strengthening societal demands for the implementation of the most severe penalties on the perpetrators of such crimes.
