Democracy heroes come back to life
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolian Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 23, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district now hosts statues of victims of assassination. A ceremony was held Wednesday for the 12 statues that are called "Heroes of Democracy."
The statues, which include journalists Abdi İpekçi and Uğur Mumcu, were sculpted by lecturers from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and placed in Abbasağa Park. The project was completed with support from the Beşiktaş Municipality and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
’Men of their word’
Beşiktaş Mayor İsmail Ünal said Turkey for the last 40 years witnessed assassinations of men from the science, arts and culture world. "The ’Heroes of Democracy’ lived taking risks while leading people with their knowledge and defending modern and secular society. They were men of their word and of knowledge. Those who sacrificed themselves for democracy will never be forgotten."
Noting that there have been many losses in the cause of democracy, Ünal said, "We will put up more statues of heroes around the city. We cannot forget them, because if we do we will betray our democracy."
Rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Professor Rahmi Aksungur said Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic, gave importance to culture, the arts and artists. "Beşiktaş has been a home to the arts since the establishment of the Republic. The municipality has always appreciated works of art."
The statues were sculpted by Rahmi Aksungur, Ferit Özşeh, Önder Büyükerman, İdis Güner Türker, Vedat Somay Fatma Akyürek and Ayla Aksungur.
Among the statues were journalist Uğur Mumcu, public prosecutor Doğan Öz, writer Asım Bezirci, political scientist and lecturer Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, deputy dean Ümit Yaşar Doğanay, journalist Abdi İpekçi, political scientist and lecturer Bahriye Üçok, writer Onat Kutlar, politician, lawyer and spokesman for the commission that prepared the 1961 Constitution Muammer Aksoy, journalist Çetin Emeç, lecturer Bedrettin Cömert and academic Orhan Cavit Tütengil.
’Men of their word’
Beşiktaş Mayor İsmail Ünal said Turkey for the last 40 years witnessed assassinations of men from the science, arts and culture world. "The ’Heroes of Democracy’ lived taking risks while leading people with their knowledge and defending modern and secular society. They were men of their word and of knowledge. Those who sacrificed themselves for democracy will never be forgotten."
Noting that there have been many losses in the cause of democracy, Ünal said, "We will put up more statues of heroes around the city. We cannot forget them, because if we do we will betray our democracy."
Rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Professor Rahmi Aksungur said Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkish Republic, gave importance to culture, the arts and artists. "Beşiktaş has been a home to the arts since the establishment of the Republic. The municipality has always appreciated works of art."
The statues were sculpted by Rahmi Aksungur, Ferit Özşeh, Önder Büyükerman, İdis Güner Türker, Vedat Somay Fatma Akyürek and Ayla Aksungur.
Among the statues were journalist Uğur Mumcu, public prosecutor Doğan Öz, writer Asım Bezirci, political scientist and lecturer Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, deputy dean Ümit Yaşar Doğanay, journalist Abdi İpekçi, political scientist and lecturer Bahriye Üçok, writer Onat Kutlar, politician, lawyer and spokesman for the commission that prepared the 1961 Constitution Muammer Aksoy, journalist Çetin Emeç, lecturer Bedrettin Cömert and academic Orhan Cavit Tütengil.