Turkey mourns journalist Uğur Mumcu on 29th anniversary of his assassination
On the 29th anniversary of his assassination, investigative journalist Uğur Mumcu was commemorated with a ceremony in the capital Ankara. Mumcu was 51 when he was assassinated by a bomb placed in his car in front of his house on Jan. 24, 1993.
Duvar English
Journalist and writer Uğur Mumcu, who was assassinated in a bomb attack in 1993, was commemorated in front of his house in Ankara on the 29th anniversary of his assassination on Jan. 24.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and several CHP deputies attended the commemoration ceremony on Uğur Mumcu Street.
After 29 years, it is not still clear who or which organization carried out the assassination of the renowned journalist.
In a YouTube video on May 2021, mafia leader Sedat Peker had said that former police chief and minister Mehmet Ağar and former intelligence official Korkut Erken were responsible for the journalist's murder.
Kılıçdaroğlu, together with Mumcu's wife Güldal Mumcu, his children Özge Mumcu Aybars and Özgür Mumcu, left carnations at the area where Mumcu passed away and lit candles.
“It is my greatest desire for the whole media world to make a joint effort under Mumcu’s guidance. If we can learn the details of the events, we will have done our duty as journalists,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
Stating that it is difficult to write the truth especially nowadays, Kılıçdaroğlu added: “Do not forget Uğur Mumcu. He was a brave man who would easily sacrifice his life for the sake of seeking the truth. We will remember that brave man with respect in every environment.”
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, CHP Istanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu and CHP Women's Branch Chair Aylin Nazlıaka also attended the commemoration ceremony .
Turkish Rock band Redd sang songs in memory of the journalist.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Istanbul's Maltepe district, run by the CHP, held a panel to commemorate Mumcu.
During the panel, journalist and academician Ayberk Can Ertuna said that Mumcu had exposed a lot of secret cases in his lifetime, and would continue to reveal further dark relationships and corruption if he were still alive.
Journalist and academician Ceren Sözeri said that Mumcu is one of the biggest reasons she became a journalist. She also said that Mumcu had established the background of investigative journalism based on information and documents.