Children’s advocate laid to rest
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Şafak Timur
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL -A former student who received a scholarship from her association and an activist who worked with her on health and education were just two of the people gathered for the funeral of Professor Türkan Saylan yesterday. Saylan died early Monday morning and the funeral was held at Istanbul’s Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Center.
Türkan Saylan had become a symbol of those who believed the government was offending secularism.
"She was like my spiritual mother," said 29-year-old engineer İdil Kışlal, although she had never met Saylan, who died early Monday. "I believe we were on the same frequency," she said. Her husband, Kıvanç, holding a bunch of daisies, said they were not comfortable with the slogans chanted.
"She wanted to be beyond politics," İdil said. As the crowd to honor Saylan grew, the Kışlals and dozens more waited outside the congress center as there was no room inside. People waiting outside chanted slogans saying: "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," and "Turkey is proud of you."
Saylan, the head of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, or ÇYDD, was a highly political name, especially after her house was searched under the ongoing Ergenekon case Ğ a gang that is alleged to have tried to topple the government by creating chaos and mayhem. "I am sure [the search of her house and the involvement of her name in the case] significantly hurt her," said Yalçın Yaman, 73, who had donated and sold mechanical goods to the leprosy hospital that Saylan founded. "I received a scholarship from the ÇYDD two years ago. I am so sad," said 22-year-old university student Sertaç Saltan. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, parliamentary group, said at the funeral ceremony that he expected the state to apologize to her.
Saylan’s body was carried to Teşvikiye Mosque after the ceremony followed by a large crowd. Her body was at the Teşvikiye Mosque when Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to print. She was expected to be buried in Zincirlikuyu cemetery.
"She was like my spiritual mother," said 29-year-old engineer İdil Kışlal, although she had never met Saylan, who died early Monday. "I believe we were on the same frequency," she said. Her husband, Kıvanç, holding a bunch of daisies, said they were not comfortable with the slogans chanted.
"She wanted to be beyond politics," İdil said. As the crowd to honor Saylan grew, the Kışlals and dozens more waited outside the congress center as there was no room inside. People waiting outside chanted slogans saying: "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," and "Turkey is proud of you."
Saylan, the head of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, or ÇYDD, was a highly political name, especially after her house was searched under the ongoing Ergenekon case Ğ a gang that is alleged to have tried to topple the government by creating chaos and mayhem. "I am sure [the search of her house and the involvement of her name in the case] significantly hurt her," said Yalçın Yaman, 73, who had donated and sold mechanical goods to the leprosy hospital that Saylan founded. "I received a scholarship from the ÇYDD two years ago. I am so sad," said 22-year-old university student Sertaç Saltan. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the deputy leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s, parliamentary group, said at the funeral ceremony that he expected the state to apologize to her.
Saylan’s body was carried to Teşvikiye Mosque after the ceremony followed by a large crowd. Her body was at the Teşvikiye Mosque when Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to print. She was expected to be buried in Zincirlikuyu cemetery.