The ceremony was attended by tens of thousands of Turks, including Economy Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, who gathered to pay tribute to their first civilian president. People from İstanbul and other cities began to fill the mosque at the first light of day. Because of the pleasant weather, many participants of all ages gathered for the ceremony over the next few hours, forming a significant crowd in and around the mosque.
Özal was the first civilian president of the country, as the first seven presidents all came from military backgrounds. He was the first prime minister elected in Turkey after the violent 1980 military coup. During his term in the prime ministerial office between 1983 and 1989, he implemented a truly liberal economy, which is why he is now remembered for launching the integration of the Turkish economy into global markets. He served as president for four years until he died of a suspicious heart attack in 1993.
 Turgut Özal, Turkey’s eighth president and the first civilian to assume the post, was commemorated by tens of thousands in the courtyard of İstanbul’s Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque with a congregational ceremony marked by the recitation of poetry praising the Prophet Muhammad. |
Those attended the ceremony also voiced their continued appreciation for the leader 16 years after his death. "Mr. Özal was really valuable for Turkey. The place he has in people's hearts is now revealed through the size of the crowd today. Every leader who is at peace with the nation will have a respected place in our hearts. That is a message for current leaders. They need to think of the future rather than of the moment," said Halil Gürcan, a resident of İstanbul who attended the ceremony.
"I came here for him from Zonguldak. He lived the life of an unforgettable leader. Today, everything from the mobiles to the highways we use is his legacy to us," said Mevlit Çetinkaya, another attendee. Emin Bayram from Mardin said: "Being from the Southeast, I commemorate him with respect. He was an important leader as he broadened the country's horizons. He realized real progress both politically and economically. If people here did not forget him today after 16 years, it proves how appropriate his sincerity was."
Religious Affairs Directorate head Ali Bardakoğlu addressed the audience during the ceremony, saying the world offers the opportunity for humankind to perform good deeds. “Being a Muslim and a devout man mean to live while always remembering this opportunity,” he said.
Previous years witnessed similar public gatherings organized to commemorate Özal, which were attended by huge numbers of people as well. As people continue to come together each year to pay their respects and honor his memory, it has become a tradition in the country to see crowds commemorating Turkey's first civilian president.
