Politics · Turkey · 6 hrs ago
Former Turkish security chief and minister Ünal Erkan dies
Ünal Erkan, a former Turkish security chief and minister, has died after a period of treatment in intensive care.
He held senior police posts in Ankara and Istanbul, and later became head of Turkey’s national police.
He also served as governor of the emergency-rule region, based in Diyarbakır, during a period when emergency rule applied in some provinces.
The role had broad powers to coordinate and oversee provincial governors, and Erkan became known publicly as the “Super Governor.”
Erkan later represented Ankara in parliament and served as a state minister in 1996.
His funeral is scheduled for Friday in Ankara, followed by burial at Gölbaşı Cemetery.
Ünal Erkan, a former Turkish state minister, police chief and emergency-region governor, has died.
He had been receiving intensive care in hospital after a long period of treatment, Cumhuriyet reported.
Erkan served as Ankara and Istanbul police chief, head of Turkey’s police force and governor of Edirne.
He later became an Ankara member of parliament and served as a state minister in 1996.
During his emergency-region governorship, he was known publicly as the “Super Governor.”
- Who
- Ünal Erkan, a former Turkish security official and politician.
- What
- He died after receiving treatment for health problems.
- When
- He died on the morning of October 29, 2026, according to Sözcü.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated.
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Erkan served in police leadership roles, as Edirne governor and as emergency-region governor.
Erkan served as a state minister in the 53rd government.
Erkan received hospital treatment; his condition briefly improved before worsening again, Cumhuriyet reported.
Sözcü reported that Erkan died that morning.
A funeral was scheduled at Ankara’s Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, followed by burial at Gölbaşı Cemetery.
- Birth year and place
- 1942, Erzurum
- Parliamentary role
- Ankara member of parliament in the 20th term
- State minister
- March 6–June 28, 1996
- Nickname
- Super Governor
- Funeral location
- Ahmet Hamdi Akseki Mosque, Ankara
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Super Governor