Iranian Citizen's Body Found in Şanlıurfa; Turkish Police Launch 'Murder' Investigation

Details of the Discovery in Akabe Neighborhood Early this morning, Sunday, July 5, 2026, citizens passing through the 'Akabe' area in the Eyyübiye district of Şanlıurfa province encountered a horrific scene. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the body of an individual unusually wrapped in a blanket in an empty field near the ring road [2].

Immediately after citizens contacted the 112 emergency center, police teams and health paramedics were dispatched to the scene. Initial examinations by medical teams at the site confirmed that the individual had lost his life. Given the positioning of the body and its wrapping in a blanket, the police immediately cordoned off the area and implemented 'suspicious death' protocols [4].

Identification and Transfer to Forensic Medicine Crime scene investigation teams and the Şanlıurfa Public Security Department identified the deceased after hours of meticulous examination of the site and evidence collection. Based on identification documents found and system checks, it was determined that the body belongs to a 52-year-old Iranian citizen named Omid Lotfipour [1][3].

Following legal procedures at the discovery site and by order of the Public Prosecutor, Mr. Lotfipour's body was transferred to the morgue of the Şanlıurfa Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy and to determine the exact cause of death. Authorities have not yet announced whether there were signs of assault or gunshot wounds on the body, but they emphasized that the autopsy results will clarify the main direction of the case [2].

Criminal Police Enter the Case and Investigate Murder Hypothesis Given the existing evidence, particularly the abandonment of the body in a remote area and its wrapping in a blanket, the Şanlıurfa Police 'Homicide Bureau' (Cinayet Büro Amirliği) has directly taken responsibility for investigating this case [1].

Police detectives have now begun reviewing all CCTV cameras leading to the Akabe area and the ring road to determine at what time and by which vehicle or individuals the body was transported to this location. Furthermore, an extensive investigation is underway to track Omid Lotfipour's last calls and meetings to determine why he was in the city and who he was in contact with [3][4].

As of now, no individual has been arrested in connection with this incident, but local sources say the police are considering several hypotheses, including personal disputes or the possibility of organized crime. Iranian consular officials in Turkey have not yet officially reacted to the incident, but it is expected that after the completion of the initial police report, the necessary coordination for the transfer of the body to Iran will take place.