Celal Şengör shares message for his close friend İlber Ortaylı

Expressing his deep sorrow over Ortaylı's passing, Şengör stated that Turkey has suffered a significant intellectual loss.

Şengör said, "İlber was one of Turkey's greatest intellectuals. If you ask me, he was the greatest. His loss is a great loss for our nation. When I heard he had died, I felt that a significant portion of Turkey's intellectual capacity had been lost."

"IT IS IRREPLACEABLE"

Stating that he and Ortaylı were close friends, Şengör said, "İlber was a very close, good friend of mine. Every time I said 'hello' to him, I learned something new. Now that opportunity is gone. İlber's loss is impossible to replace."

Şengör noted that Ortaylı's wealth of knowledge and intellectual identity could not be easily replaced, adding, "It is no longer possible to find a family like his, nor is it possible to find a mind like İlber's. Therefore, I offer my condolences to our nation. I hope we can raise more İlbers. That is what he wanted, too. I hope it happens."

Meanwhile, it was announced by his family that historian İlber Ortaylı passed away at the hospital where he was receiving treatment and that his funeral ceremony will be held on Monday, March 16.

Celal Şengör shares message for his close friend İlber Ortaylıhttps://t.co/2RC4QjNHmw pic.twitter.com/wfpZUb1TnI

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) March 14, 2026

News Source: 12punto