Bartholomew Attends Mehmet Ali Birand Funeral

The funeral of the prominent Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand on Jan. 19 attracted a large crowd, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who came to pay their last respects.

Birdan died in in an Istanbul hospital on  Jan. 17 at the age of 71 years old. The presence of the Patriarch really touched Birand’s widow, who after the funeral told the reporters that one of the last meals that her husband had was with the Patriarch, on Jan. 9.

The Patriarch  later stated about the late journalist that, “He served both the Turkish and international society, as well as the world peace for many years. He was an intellectual, brave and democratic man.  He always supported the minorities’ demands.  We are all grateful to him.”

During the funeral the streets in the area around the mosque were blocked off and municipal authorities displayed large banners with his photo on all roads leading to the mosque, with the last farewell to the city’s favorite journalist. “We are sorry … a leaf has fallen of the log book. Now we no more have a 32^nd Day,(a reference to Mehmet Ali Birand’s TV show, “Day 32^nd) they said.