Prominent Turkish academic, NGO head dies from cancer at 74
Güncelleme Tarihi:
ISTANBUL – Respected child advocate Professor Turkan Saylan, leader of a number of philanthropic organizations, including the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, or CYDD, died early Monday from cancer at the age of 74. (UPDATED)
Saylan, who had been battling breast cancer for 17 years, had been kept in the intensive-care unit of Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine’s oncology department over the weekend.Â
Saylan, a medical doctor, is best known for eradicating leprosy in Her ideals would continue to live on, stated the CYDD, an organization devoted to providing educational grants for poor children. She was recently questioned by police as part of the country's controversial Ergenekon probe into an alleged network of suspects accused of aiming to topple the government. Police searched her home and seized a number of notebooks and personal papers in the latest wave of the operation in which several executives of the CYDD were also detained.  Her inclusion in the controversial Ergenekon probe has drawn fierce widespread criticism in  Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the headquarters of the CYDD in  "An unlawful search (by police) was conducted of her home and branches of her organization five weeks ago," an honorary member of the CYDD and professor of law, Ibrahim Kaboglu, told reporters outside the branch.  "The state owes her an apology," he said.  Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay thanked Saylan for her "services, efforts and generosity on behalf of the government."  "Many of our children were given the chance to receive an education thanks to her efforts," he told reporters in  The leader of  "Her exposure to unfair pressure, suppression and intimidation efforts in addition to her struggle with a serious illness during the last phase of her admirable fight only deepens our sorrow," he said in a message.  Saylan will be laid to rest in LIFETIME COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHERS Born in She was appointed associate professor in 1972 and professor in 1977 at Saylan concentrated her career on leprosy in 1976 and founded the Society for the Struggle Against Leprosy the same year. She also initiated the establishment of the Foundation for the Struggle Against Leprosy in 1976, and was a founding member of the International Leprosy Union. Saylan earned an international reputation for her wide-ranging medical, educational and social work on leprosy. In 1986 she received the International Gandhi Prize, presented to her in In 1989, Saylan and a group of colleagues founded the CYDD in She was appointed a member of the Higher Education Board, or YOK, by the president between the years 2001 and 2007. Saylan published numerous articles in both English and Turkish in the fields of medicine, education and women’s problems. She published six books in She is survived by two sons and two grandchildren. The CYDD became one of the largest and most progressive nongovernmental organizations in The CYDD is involved in many educational projects, including building schools, dormitories, rehabilitation and cultural centers; publishing and donating books; donating of musical instruments; organizing panels and conferences; and providing scholarships to students at all levels. The number of primary and secondary education students who receive scholarships has exceeded 16,000.