Those who must face the truth after Uğur Mumcu...

Uğur Mumcu... I never had the chance to know him or work with him. For many years, and even now, whenever Uğur Mumcu's name is mentioned, I always smell the scent of Ankara. An Ankara that smells of coal, a feeling of damp chill emerges in my mind.

Many journalists have been inspired by his idealistic life, his understanding of journalism, his courage, and the fact that he continued to practice journalism without compromise despite knowing he was under threat. They chose the profession of journalism by admiring him...

That is why Uğur Mumcu continues to live on, strongly.

Even though most of us cannot even come close to his flawless approach to journalism, it is easy to say that when we bring our pieces and our goals together, we are still a force for enlightening society.

After all, Mumcu was sure that there would be those who would walk his path, saying, "From every piece of me, those like me, those who will surpass me, will be born."

Uğur Mumcu was torn away from life, his family, and his readers 31 years ago today by a cowardly method.

However, 31 years later, Mumcu continues to grow. His emphasis on full independence and justice is being understood better every day. The importance of the struggle against political Islam is being learned in a painful way.

On the 31st anniversary of the great journalist being torn from his people, journalists also need to engage in self-criticism and face their own truths.

Undoubtedly, the media has been one of the most important factors in the terrible destruction created by the 21-year AKP government.

Let us put aside the bosses who think only of their interests and multi-million tenders... There are journalists who, despite not being satisfied at all with what the AKP has done, have not even managed to remain passive in the struggle against political Islam. And there are so many of them that we cannot even estimate the number.

By hiding behind various human excuses, they became soldiers for those who target the republic, democracy, and enlightenment, leaving truths unwritten.

They stood subserviently before bosses known by everyone to be enemies of the Republic.

Interests were prioritized over the truth. There were those who accepted this meekly and retreated to their corners, and there were those who turned Uğur Mumcu's memory and existence into profit...

If he were alive, I am sure he would be very sad.

I commemorate him once again today and bow respectfully before the values he believed in. It is our duty to leave something timeless regarding both Uğur Mumcu and journalism, and to carry his mission to future generations.