New testimony sheds light on alleged shooting of Gülistan Doku

More than six years after Gülistan Doku disappeared in eastern Türkiye, new testimony has put an alleged shooting inside a BMW at the center of the unresolved case.

Doku, a 21-year-old university student, was last seen near Tunceli’s Sarısaltuk Viaduct on Jan. 5, 2020. Search teams carried out extensive operations, but her whereabouts remained unknown. A new account emerged after Umut Altaş, a suspect wanted in connection with the investigation and detained in the United States, was questioned at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania.

The FBI and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations questioned Altaş on Aug. 19 and 20 at Türkiye’s request for judicial assistance. Turkish authorities had prepared 109 questions. The FBI produced a 34-page report dated Aug. 26 and sent it to Turkish authorities through the Turkish Justice Ministry’s Directorate General for Foreign Relations and European Union Affairs.

According to the report, Altaş alleged that Mustafa Türkay Sonel shot Doku inside a BMW after she objected to being followed. Altaş said he sat in the front passenger seat while Doku was in the back. He claimed Sonel took a black handgun from the glove compartment and fired, then ordered him to help move her body to the trunk. Altaş initially refused, he said, but later helped place the body inside the vehicle.

Altaş also alleged that Sonel called Şükrü Eroğlu and spoke with him for 15 to 20 minutes. Sonel later said his father would handle the situation, Altaş claimed. The next morning, Sonel allegedly told him not to discuss the incident. When Altaş asked where Doku’s body had been taken, he said Sonel indicated the Pertek area of Tunceli.

Traffic and license-plate records were presented during the interview. They showed Altaş near the viaduct around 10:09 p.m. on Jan. 5, while Sonel’s phone was recorded in the same area. Records showed Sonel’s BMW traveling toward Elazığ at 10:17 p.m. and returning toward Tunceli at 10:30 p.m., with Sonel driving and Altaş in the passenger seat. Altaş said they returned to check whether cameras had captured the incident. He also alleged threats against him and his family, along with an offer of money to keep silent. The supplied report ends while describing other allegations discussed during the FBI interview.