Saying, “Dad, don’t die, I can’t attend your funeral”, Prof. Mumtazer Turkone, the columnist of the closed Zaman Newspaper, lost his father Ahmet Turkone, 91. Mumtazer Turkone attended his mother’s funeral, with his hands in handcuffs, with the permission of the prosecutor’s office; however, he could not attend his father’s funeral this time because the prosecutor’s office didn’t permit it.
Turkone was arrested after July 15 and sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for his columns in Zaman Newspaper.
Cubuk Sesi Haber announced Ahmet Turkone’s death on July 5, 2019, on their Facebook account as “Ahmet Turkone, Retired Sergeant Major, has passed away at the age of 91. May Almighty have mercy on him.”
Mumtaz’er Turkone lost his mother Nuriye Turkone on August 18, 2017. He was able to attend his mother’s funeral on July 19, 2017, with the permission of the prosecutor’s office.
Mumtaz’er Turkone said to his father that day that “Dad, don’t die, I can’t attend your funeral,” and he could not attend his father’s funeral. Ahmet Turkone was buried in the Cubuk district of Ankara city.
Zaman was the most circulated newspaper, which was published in Turkish and English, in Turkey. The newspaper was established with the suggestion of Mr Gulen. However, the regime deliberately shut it down to avoid the public getting the trustworthy news, instead of Erdogan’s media, which are sourced from the same table, by precisely the same highlights and the only aim is to support Erdogan, rather than delivering the actual news.