Nadire Mater Receives Mülkiye Award

Ankara University Political Science Department--a school of government that raised most of Turkey's leading politicians and intellectuals--celebrated its 153th establishment anniversary on Tuesday with a special ceremony attended by several alumni including former ministers and political scientists.

The department's alumni association awarded journalist-author Nadire Mater with its annual award for her work in the field of press freedom and alternative citizen journalism.

"We're giving out this award to Nadire Mater to emphasize on the importance of free press at a time that several journalists are in prison and pressures on the media are at its highest in Turkey," said Sevilay Çelenk, the president of alumni association.

Çelenk said Mater did excellent work on the creation of an alternative news platform with a focus on citizen journalism, as well as her publications that shed light on Turkey's most sensitive political issues. "We believe that Mater made a remarkable contribution on the improvement of human rights in Turkey.

Mater: "I am not receiving this award only in my name"

"I am not receiving this award only in my name," said Mater, not withholding her excitement to receive the prize in the exact conference room where student leader Mahir Cayan delivered a political speech to a student union audience in 1970.

"Media in Turkey is going through a challenging period," Mater continued, "I am receiving this award in the name of many that contributed to the foundation of bianet, especially my colleague Ertuğrul Kürkçü who is serving in the parliament now." (SK/HK)

* Photo credit: Mehmet Özer