WAN – Dr Huseyin Yavic, a member of the Van-Hakkari Medical Chamber who participated in the autopsy of Rojin Kabais, said that major shortcomings in the investigation have hindered the process from the very beginning. “The deficiencies in the inquiry unfortunately made this process much more difficult,” he said.
The suspicious death of 21-year-old university student Rojin Kabais continues to draw public attention. Kabais, a first-year student in Child Development at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, went missing after leaving her dormitory on 27 September 2024. Her body was found 18 days later on the shore of Mollakasım neighbourhood near Lake Van.
Nearly a year after her death, the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) finally informed prosecutors that two male DNA samples were found on her body — one on her chest, and another inside the vaginal area — reinforcing suspicions of sexual assault and homicide.
‘INFORMATION WITHHELD FOR NEARLY A YEAR’
Despite public concern and demands for transparency, the prosecution barred civil society representatives from observing the autopsy. The ATK’s initial report described the cause of death as “drowning”, but failed to explain how it occurred. The existence of two male DNA samples was mentioned, yet their locations were withheld for almost a year. Following intense public pressure, the ATK disclosed their precise locations, which strengthened suspicions of sexual violence.
‘THE AUTOPSY COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS’
Dr. Yavic said he joined the autopsy at the request of the Kabais family and the Van Bar Association. He emphasized that the process sparked widespread outrage over institutional neglect: “At Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, security measures were clearly insufficient. When Rojin first went missing, the university remained indifferent for a long time. Only after public outcry did they begin to show concern.”
Yavic explained that the body’s condition after 18 days in the lake limited forensic findings: “Some potentially significant evidence could not be properly assessed because parts of the body were decomposed. The autopsy wasn’t carried out under ideal conditions.”
He also noted that subcutaneous hemorrhages — bruising beneath the skin — were found in multiple areas, suggesting non-lethal trauma before death.
‘THE DIATOM TEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED’
Yavic criticized the ATK for failing to perform a Diatom Test, a standard procedure in drowning cases that compares microscopic organisms in the body with those in the water: “While it doesn’t always yield definitive results, it can support other findings when evaluated together. Not conducting this test represents a clear shortcoming. Since the death was said to have occurred in Lake Van, this test should have been performed.”
‘THE PROCESS NEEDS TRANSPARENCY’
Yavic warned that the investigation’s inconsistencies and lack of transparency have fueled misinformation and public mistrust. “The investigation has largely followed a ‘suicide’ narrative, but the evidence needs to be examined from multiple angles. The opacity of the process creates confusion and suspicion in society,” he added.
He stressed that matching the male DNA samples to potential suspects is a sensitive but essential step: “It’s neither feasible nor ethical to collect samples from everyone in Van. Instead, investigators should narrow the scope and collect samples only from individuals under suspicion.”
Concluding his remarks, Yavic stressed that justice can only be achieved through a thorough and transparent inquiry: “The flaws in the investigation from the start have made this process very difficult. Only by deepening the inquiry can concrete results emerge. But as the process drags on, public anxiety and questions continue to grow.”
MA / Ceylan Sahinli