Funeral ceremony held at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for Saadet Party Kocaeli MP Bitmez

A funeral ceremony was held at the Parliament for Saadet Party Kocaeli MP Hasan Bitmez, who fell ill while delivering a speech at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) General Assembly and passed away at the age of 54 in the hospital where he was receiving treatment.

The funeral ceremony was attended by Bitmez's father Salih Bitmez, his wife Safiye, his daughter Meryem Bitmez, and his relatives, as well as TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Deputy Speakers of the Parliament, several cabinet members, Saadet Party Chairman Temel Karamollaoğlu, New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah Partisi) Chairman Fatih Erbakan, Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) Chairman Ahmet Davutoğlu, BBP Chairman Mustafa Destici, DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan, DSP Chairman Önder Aksakal, Democrat Party Chairman Gültekin Uysal, AK Party Deputy Chairman Mustafa Elitaş, AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler, IYI Party Group Chairman Koray Aydın, HEDEP Group Deputy Chairman Hakkı Saruhan Oluç, members of parliament, former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and parliamentary staff.

Bitmez's father, Salih Bitmez, wore a Palestinian scarf during the funeral ceremony.

A Palestinian flag was placed on Hasan Bitmez's coffin, which was draped in the Turkish flag, by Saadet Party Hatay MP Necmettin Çalışkan.

Following the reading of Bitmez's biography, a moment of silence was observed and prayers were recited. After the ceremony, Bitmez's family accepted condolences at the Parliament Ceremony Hall.

Bitmez's body, which was sent to Istanbul, will be laid to rest at the Merkezefendi Cemetery tomorrow following the funeral prayer to be held at the Fatih Mosque after the Friday prayer.

WHO IS HASAN BİTMEZ?

Born in Giresun in 1969, Bitmez completed his higher education at Al-Azhar University.

Having served in various positions at the National Youth Foundation (Milli Gençlik Vakfı), Bitmez founded the Anatolian Youth Magazine in 2000 and served as its editor-in-chief.

Hasan Bitmez, who was among the founders of the Gebze Imam Hatip High School Alumni Association, served as the president of the International Youth Forum.

Bitmez, who was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Federation of Student Organizations, ensured that aid from the Saadet Party and the Cansuyu Relief Association reached many countries such as Indonesia, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Sudan, Ghana, and India.

Starting his political career in the Welfare Party's Gebze District Organization, Bitmez held various positions in the Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi) and the Saadet Party.

Bitmez, who was also a Deputy Chairman of the Saadet Party, was elected as a Kocaeli MP in the elections on May 14.

Fluent in Arabic and English, Bitmez was married and a father of one child.