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Oğuz Türkyılmaz, a columnist for BirGün and Chair of the Energy Working Group of the TMMOB Mechanical Engineers’ Chamber, who passed away at the age of 75, was laid to rest yesterday. Following a funeral service held at the Mechanical Engineers’ Chamber Education and Culture Centre in Ankara, Türkyılmaz was buried at Cebeci Asri Cemetery.

Speaking at the ceremony, Yunus Yener, Chair of the MMO Executive Board, said: “We will always remember him through the legacy he left us, and we will keep his work and struggle alive. He lived as a revolutionary. He was an organiser. He fought for labour and justice. He was anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist. He never lost his faith in the revolution and in better days. He was a soldier of the TMMOB and the MMO. He was one of those who made hope beautiful.”

A CHAMPION OF SOCIALISM

Türkyılmaz’s wife, Latife Türkyılmaz, struggled to speak from the podium. “Oğuz was a passionate revolutionary and a committed socialist. He based all his struggles on these principles,” said Latife Türkyılmaz, adding, “He wanted to involve as many people as possible in his struggle, and he did just that.”

Ekber Çakar, Chair of the TMMOB Executive Board and a comrade-in-arms who spoke in memory of Oğuz Türkyılmaz, remarked: “Today, we are bidding farewell not only to a valued colleague but also to a revolutionary who dedicated his life to the struggle for equality, freedom, democracy and the interests of the people.”

Speaking on behalf of the SOL Party—which represents the journey from Devrimci Yol to the present day—SOL Party Spokesperson İsmail Hakkı Tombul said: “Oğuz brother, from the early 1970s onwards, he never strayed from the struggle for an independent Türkiye and an equal, free future for the people living on this land; he pursued this idea, this ideal, in every sphere of life and across all fields of struggle. ‘Oğuz brother was one of the last pioneers of a generation,’ he said.

WE LEARNED A LOT

Yaşar Aydın, Publishing Co-ordinator of the BirGün newspaper, for which he was a writer, said: “Oğuz brother loved journalism, the newspaper, BirGün – and he loved us very much too. I think it was the unfinished story of the *Demokrat* newspaper that bound him to us – his deep commitment to *Demokrat* and to that struggle. He was a very special person. He was full of surprises. He was truly a good teacher,” he said.

Gülşah Gülen Çiftçi, Chair of the ODTÜ Alumni Association, bid farewell to Türkyılmaz with the words: “He guided people and paved the way for them. We have taken up that banner. We will continue to work together to fulfil this responsibility to the best of our ability.”

Emin Koramaz, Oğuz Türkyılmaz’s comrade-in-arms and former Chair of the TMMOB Executive Board, remarked: “When I first met Oğuz Türkyılmaz, I thought, ‘What a cold, stern, workaholic figure stands before me.’ I realised I was wrong. It turned out that meeting Oğuz Abi was an opportunity to get to know the spirit of ’68, that champion of the cause, so enthusiastic, and that tradition of struggle,” he said. Türkyılmaz was laid to rest at Cebeci Asri Cemetery following the ceremony.

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HE LEFT BEHIND A SIGNIFICANT LEGACY

Türkyılmaz was one of the figures who left their mark on Türkiye’s struggles for democracy, labour and professional rights. Having been involved in social struggles from his youth, Türkyılmaz was among the key witnesses to the ’68 generation and the subsequent democratic mass organisation movements.

Throughout his professional career, Türkyılmaz held various positions at Etibank, the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers; he was particularly recognised for his work in the fields of energy policy, industrialisation, the public interest and engineering.

Türkyılmaz, who also worked for a time at the Demokrat newspaper, championed the values of equality, freedom and solidarity throughout his life. He leaves behind a significant legacy relating to the engineering profession, energy policies and the history of the democratic struggle.

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Oğuz Türkyılmaz alkışlarla uğurlandı: Mücadelesini yaşatacağız, published in BirGün newspaper on June 20, 2026.

Kaynak: BirGün