Prominent Turkish academic dies from cancer

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.

Saylan, a medical doctor, is best known for eradicating leprosy in Turkey.

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 over her alleged involvement in the country's controversial Ergenekon case in the latest wave of arrests that included several executives of the CYDD, university rectors and professors. Police also searched her home and seized a number of notebooks and personal papers in the raid.

Her inclusion in the controversial Ergenekon probe has drawn fierce widespread criticism in Turkey.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered at the headquarters of the CYDD in Istanbul to pay their respects.

"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 generocity 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 Ankara.

Saylan will be laid to rest in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul on Tuesday.

LIFETIME COMMITTED TO HELPING OTHERS

Born in Istanbul in 1935, Saylan graduated from the Istanbul University School of Medicine in 1963 and specialized in venereal diseases and dermatology.

She was appointed associate professor in 1972 and professor in 1977 at Istanbul University, from which she retired in December 2002.

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 India.

In 1989, Saylan and a group of colleagues founded the CYDD in Istanbul. She had been the president of CYDD since its establishment.

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 Turkey, including her autobiographical book, "The Sun Rises Now Out of Hope," and "Being a Doctor."

She is survived by two sons and two grandchildren.

The CYDD became one of the largest and most progressive nongovernmental organizations in Turkey since its foundation. Based in Istanbul, the association has 96 branches throughout Turkey and an independent affiliate in Germany, which provided the initial funding for the education of girls project. The CYDD has more than 20,000 members who volunteer to work on projects they design.

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.