Journalist Uğur Mumcu not forgotten on the 31st anniversary of his assassination: 'He continues to be a light for young journalists'
Journalist and author Uğur Mumcu, one of Turkey's bravest pens, is being commemorated on the 31st anniversary of his assassination. Politicians, artists, and citizens shared their views and thoughts about Mumcu on their social media accounts.
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31 years have passed since investigative journalist Uğur Mumcu lost his life in a bomb assassination in front of his home in Ankara.
Politicians, members of the press, the art community, and citizens commemorated Mumcu on the anniversary of his death with messages shared on their social media accounts.
WHO SAID WHAT ON THE 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF UĞUR MUMCU'S ASSASSINATION?
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu: They illuminated our path; they earned the love of the people with their virtuous and hardworking personalities. I commemorate the brave journalist Uğur Mumcu, the Police Chief Gaffar Okkan who was deeply attached to his people with love, and the honorable politician İsmail Cem with respect and affection.
Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ: I met and listened to Uğur Mumcu in the second half of the 1980s when he visited my father at the house where we lived on Tunalı Hilmi Street. The topic was always Turkey's security. At that time, I was writing my associate professorship thesis on May 27, and I had also visited Uğur Mumcu in his office at his home and heard about his youth after May 27 from him. He never compromised on Atatürk and Turkey's interests.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer: I commemorate the brave pen Uğur Mumcu with respect and longing on the anniversary of his assassination.
Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yılmaz Büyükerşen: "We are now like a bouquet of flowers dedicated to freedom, we are all together, oh my people, do not forget us..." Uğur Mumcu had said. If he were alive and continued to practice this honorable profession, Turkey could have been a different country. He continues to be the symbol of journalism and a light for young journalists. I commemorate him with respect, love, and longing, and as a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, I feel shame and anger because his perpetrators have not been found for 31 years.
Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Gürün: I commemorate the master name of investigative journalism Uğur Mumcu, the master name of proper politics İsmail Cem, and Police Chief Ali Gaffar Okkan with respect and mercy.
Democrat Party Deputy Chairman Cemal Enginyurt: He was not just a journalist. He was a patriot who loved his country, a devotee of Atatürk, and a lover of the Republic. I commemorate Uğur Mumcu with mercy. May his soul rest in peace.
Retired Rear Admiral Cem Gürdeniz: We lost the exemplary journalist and investigative author Uğur Mumcu, who protected our Republic and Kemalism with all its values, 31 years ago; and the distinguished police chief and friend of the people Gaffar Okan 23 years ago today, as a result of attacks by imperialist centers. I wish mercy upon both heroes.
Contemporary Journalists Association: 31 years have passed since the assassination of our member and colleague Uğur Mumcu. In every attack on our profession, Mumcu's journalism continues to be our light, and it will continue to be. We commemorate journalist Uğur Mumcu with longing and respect.
Disk-Basın İş: 31 years without Uğur Mumcu have passed. His memory is with us in our daily lives, our professional life, and our struggle. Our colleague was murdered in an assassination, the real perpetrators were not effectively investigated, and for all these years, that "brick" has not been pulled. Let the brick be pulled, let the wall be demolished, and let our demand for justice be fulfilled!
TÜMYAD: Turkish journalist and author Uğur Mumcu was treacherously assassinated on January 24, 1993, with a bomb placed in his car. It is alleged that the evidence at the scene was swept away and destroyed with a straw broom within a few hours. We commemorate Uğur Mumcu, who gave his life for the Republic, for justice, and for a clean homeland, with respect, love, and longing.
Istanbul Medical Chamber: It has been 31 years since Uğur Mumcu was murdered. His brave pen, which was a light in the darkness, and his struggle for democracy still illuminate our path. We commemorate him with longing.
Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects: We have not forgotten Uğur Mumcu, and we will not let him be forgotten! We commemorate him with respect and longing.
Prof. Dr. Ümit Özlale: He was a journalist and intellectual I admired. I had the chance to meet and listen to him when I was at university. One of the greatest misfortunes of the generations after us is being deprived of Uğur Mumcu. We will continue our struggle until the darkness he tried to illuminate is gone.
Politician Aylin Kotil: January is the month of sorrow where we accumulate pain... We commemorate Uğur Mumcu, İsmail Cem, and Gaffar Okkan, whom we lost on January 24, with respect and longing. We have not forgotten them, and we will not forget them.
Author Sunay Akın: Someone whose life was taken by a bomb. He was someone who knew how to multiply. We were fewer Uğur Mumcus yesterday. We are more Uğur Mumcus now. With infinite respect and love to Uğur Mumcu...
Historian and author Sinan Meydan: I commemorate Uğur Mumcu and Gaffar Okkan with respect, gratitude, and mercy. Patriots who always followed in Atatürk's footsteps and defended the Republic of Turkey were murdered. But for some reason, it is always the enemies of Atatürk and the Republic who are the victims!
Journalist Ruşen Çakır: I believe Uğur Mumcu was the best journalist of my era. I commemorate him with respect and love.
Journalist Timur Soykan: Uğur Mumcu was murdered so that the country would be dragged into the darkness it is in today. It has been 31 years. His killers have not been found.
Psychiatrist Arif Verimli: We have not forgotten, we will not forget. Uğur Mumcu. No political assassination is honorable. They were all treacherous. These beautiful people left right before our eyes.
Uğur Mumcu lost his life at the age of 51 on January 24, 1993, after falling victim to an assassination when a C-4 type plastic bomb placed in his car exploded in front of his home on Karlı Street in Ankara. It has been alleged that experts who examined the scene immediately after the assassination found no evidence, and that the evidence scattered by the explosion, which should have been collected with tweezers, was swept away with a broom.
WHY WAS UĞUR MUMCU KILLED?
Ümit Oğuztan, one of the defendants in the Ergenekon Case, claimed in his statement in the indictment that Uğur Mumcu was killed because of his research into weapons with erased serial numbers that were being taken to Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Jalal Talabani.