Latest news Alleged murder of eight-year-old stirs up Turkey

The body of a missing eight-year-old girl, whose fate is shaking Turkey, has been found after weeks of searching. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has now intervened in the alleged murder case, which is preoccupying the entire country.

He will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and personally pursue the case, he wrote on the X platform.

Following the discovery of the bodies on Sunday in the south-eastern Turkish province of Diyarbakir, 24 people were arrested, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. According to media reports, they include the girl's parents and brother. The uncle had previously been arrested on suspicion of murder and deprivation of liberty. He is considered the main suspect.

Body hidden in a sack

Narin's family had reported the girl missing on August 21 in a small village in Diyarbakir province. This was followed by a large-scale search operation lasting 19 days. On Sunday, the child's body was found in a sack on the edge of a river near her hometown, according to the provincial governor. The sack had been hidden under stones and branches. The autopsy has now been completed, but the results are still pending. Among other things, the cause and time of death are still unclear.

The girl was to be buried on Monday. Numerous celebrities had expressed their sympathy for the case. Women's rights organizations called for demonstrations.