New Evidence Added to Rabia Naz Vatan Case Amid Ongoing Review
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ten new folders of evidence have been added to the Rabia Naz Vatan case file during an ongoing review by the Ministry of Justice.
- The new evidence reportedly includes details about the vehicle suspected of hitting Rabia Naz, its repair history, and its subsequent sale.
- The case, which previously saw the Constitutional Court rule that the investigation lacked due diligence, continues to face scrutiny over alleged evidence tampering.
A significant development has occurred in the long-debated case of Rabia Naz Vatan's death, with ten new folders of evidence reportedly added to the file during an ongoing review by the Ministry of Justice.
Baba Şaban Vatan stated that the new evidence contains crucial information regarding the vehicle allegedly involved in hitting Rabia Naz, including its history, ownership details, and connections to the incident. "The file has not been suspended," Vatan told Türkiye Gazetesi, emphasizing that the Ministry of Justice has forwarded the case to the Directorate General of Criminal Affairs. He added that contact is being maintained with the ministry.
Among the new claims is a renewed focus on a school backpack, previously a point of public discussion. Şaban Vatan alleges that digital records show the backpack was placed on a building's terrace about five hours after the incident, suggesting a possible staging to portray the event as a fall from a height. This claim fuels suspicions of a cover-up.
Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that the investigation into Rabia Naz Vatan's death was conducted "without due care and diligence," violating the procedural aspect of the right to life and awarding moral compensation to the family. Despite this, the family has objected to the case not being reopened due to statutes of limitations, and allegations of evidence tampering persist, with the family demanding a thorough re-evaluation of all evidence.
Dosya askıya alınmadı. Adalet Bakanımız Akın Gürlek dosyayı Ceza İşleri Daire Başkanlığı'na havale etti. Dosyanın yeniden açılması açısından Ceza İşleri Daire Başkanlığı'nın devreye girmesi çok önemliydi. Bakanlıkla irtibat halindeyiz. Dosyamıza 10 yeni klasör eklendi. Bu klasörlerde Rabia Naz'a çarpan aracın nerede tamir edildiği, daha sonra kime satıldığı, aracın adres bilgileri, araç sahibi ve suç ortaklarına ilişkin deliller bulunuyor.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.