Former MIT official Mehmet Eymür has passed away

Mehmet Eymür, the former head of the MIT Counter-Terrorism Department, passed away this morning at Çam Sakura Hospital, where he was being treated for COPD.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Former MIT official Mehmet Eymür has passed away

Mehmet Eymür, the former head of the Counter-Terrorism Department, who was widely discussed for the "Babalar Operasyonu" (Operation Fathers) reports he wrote in 1987 while serving at the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), as well as for his news website, books, and public statements, had been admitted to intensive care on January 6, 2024, due to respiratory failure.

According to journalist İsmail Saymaz, Mehmet Eymür (81) passed away this morning at Çam Sakura Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for COPD.

WHO IS MEHMET EYMÜR?

Born in Istanbul in 1943, Mehmet Eymür worked under the command of 1st Army Commander General Faik Türün in Ziverbey alongside Hiram Abas at the MIT following the March 9, 1971, coup attempt. He participated in the operations in Kızıldere and the operation in which Ulaş Bardakçı was killed. Mehmet Eymür, who also served as the Follow-up Branch Manager of the Ankara MIT Regional Directorate in 1975, was called to the Presidential Palace by Kenan Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit, in 1982 after he went to Bulgaria in 1980. He was assigned to operations against ASALA.

After returning to Turkey, he was appointed as the Mardin MIT Regional Director. Later, he was assigned to the Smuggling and Intelligence Branch Directorate, which was established within the Counter-Espionage Department in Ankara. After being appointed as deputy head of the department, he launched Operation Fathers in 1984 with permission obtained from the General Staff.

He claimed that Abdullah Çatlı had been used for intelligence purposes but later went out of control and even wanted to have him dismissed. He stated that after MIT officer Tarık Ümit was kidnapped, he called Mehmet Ağar and told him to release him.

After the capture of Alaattin Çakıcı, he was called to the center from Washington, having joined the MIT in the early 70s. When he resisted the retirement decision, Article 19 of the MIT Law was invoked, and with the approval of Mesut Yılmaz, he was appointed as a consultant to the Sugar Factories. Later, Eymür retired and settled in Washington, and he most recently came to the agenda with the statements he made on the website he opened on the Internet.

In an interview he gave to a newspaper in 2000, Mehmet Eymür stated that he was uncomfortable with the issue of Mahmut Yıldırım, codenamed Yeşil, being identified with him rather than the MIT, saying, "There are hundreds of Yeşils among the organization's personnel. Yeşil existed before, and whatever the authorities say, he will continue to exist from now on."

An investigation was launched against Mehmet Eymür for "disclosing state secrets" to the press due to his statements via e-mail and on the website he opened. Based on the information on the site, the MIT filed a criminal complaint against Eymür at the Ankara State Security Court. The State Security Court Prosecutor's Office issued a decision of lack of jurisdiction and sent the file to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Within the scope of the investigation conducted by Public Prosecutor Kasım Hacıkamiloğlu, a letter was sent to the Prime Ministry for Eymür's address determination and identity information.

Eymür also worked as a consultant for Sudi Özkan, the owner of a chain of casinos, hotels, and gambling houses.

News Source: 12punto