Journalist Timur Soykan and journalist Murat Ağırel, who carry out the profession of journalism by prioritizing the public interest and share the dark sides of communities and sects with the public, were deemed worthy of the Contemporary Life Honor Award, given for the first time in the field of press by the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ÇYDD).
The Contemporary Life Honor Award ceremony, which was given for the first time this year by the Contemporary Life Support Association in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, was held at the Bakirkoy Municipal Theaters Yunus Emre Cultural Center – Turhan Tuzcu Stage.
Members of the executive board of ÇYDD Headquarters and Istanbul branches, association members, volunteers, students and all friends of Çağdaş Yaşam participated in the ceremony, where many guests from the world of press, law and academia came together. News presenter Eylül Han Tezel hosted the award ceremony.
The ceremony started with a cocktail and music concert. After the concert, ÇYDD President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yüksel gave the opening speech. prof. Dr. Yüksel shared with the guests how ÇYDD has been continuing its journey of modernity for 34 years with the power it received from a century-old Republic, and how it has struggled with all the difficulties experienced, and said, “Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the modern and secular Republic of Turkey a century ago and is a developed country in all areas of life.
He dreamed of reaching his level. Today, we continue to carry this dream into the future together, and try to pay our debt to Atatürk and the Republic. We will always protect our secular values with the responsibility of protecting and keeping the Republic alive. Even though the forces that want to distance the country from the gains of the secular Republic constantly appear before us, we will make a bright future possible for our children with the courage, will and efforts of our journalists such as Mr. Timur Soykan and Mr. Murat Ağırel, and we will not allow all our citizens’ dreams of “Contemporary Turkey” to be imprisoned in the dark. We are proud to present the Contemporary Life Honor Award to such valuable people in honor of the 100th anniversary of our Republic.
We should not forget that the most important indicator of a democratic state of law is the free, impartial, independent, principled and transparent press. At the same time, today is January 10 Working Journalists Day. I sincerely congratulate all press workers on this special day together with Mr. Soykan and Ağırel.” He ended his speech with his words.
Then at the ceremony, the President of the Istanbul Bar Association, Atty. Filiz Saraç made a speech. Saraç underlined that they will continue to fight for the existence of the Republic of Turkey as a state of law at all times and under all conditions, and said that ÇYDD’s unforgettable Chairman Prof. Dr. He emphasized that the torch lit by Türkan Saylan will continue to illuminate the future together with the younger generations.
At the ceremony, which continued with the speeches of Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel, ÇYDD Deputy Chairman Atty. Sedat Durna explained the reason for the award with the following words: “Journal Timur Soykan, who announced to the public the news that the founder of a cult foundation, who has shaken all of us deeply and hurt our conscience, systematically abused his 6-year-old daughter under the guise of “marriage” and followed it to the end, and once again the sect and congregations. Journalist Murat Ağırel, who shared the files showing his dark sides with the public and followed the ideas in this field, was awarded the Contemporary Life Honorary Award for his efforts, courage, and principled and determined stances on the path of modernization and enlightenment.”
At the end of the ceremony, ÇYDD President Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yüksel and Atty. Turgut Kazan, Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel presented their awards.
