Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Zincirlikuyu Cemetery is a modern burial ground at the Europe
an part of Istanbul
, Turkey
. It is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality. Many prominent figures from the world of politics, business, sports and arts rest here.
The cemetery is located in the Şişli
district between Esentepe and Levent
neighborhoods. It is Istanbul’s first cemetery established in a contemporary structure. Planned in 1935, the burial place reached in the 1950s to its boundaries of today. It has an area of 0.381 km² (94.1 acre), which is completely full, excluding family graves.
A mosque
within the cemetery, built and donated by the Turkish entrepreneur İbrahim Bodur, was opened to service on April 2, 2004. The mosque is specially constructed for burial prayers, and has a capacity of 500 people.
The office of the İstanbul Cemeteries Administration is located in the building at the entrance of the cemetery.
Over the gate of the cemetery a verse
from the Qur'an
reminds "Her canlı ölümü tadacaktır" (Every living thing will taste death).
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an part of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality. Many prominent figures from the world of politics, business, sports and arts rest here.
The cemetery is located in the Şişli
Sisli
Şişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south...
district between Esentepe and Levent
Levent
Levent is a neighbourhood and one of the main business districts of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European side of the city. It is a part of the municipality of Beşiktaş which is situated to the north of the Golden Horn, at the western shore of the Bosporus strait.Levent is in direct...
neighborhoods. It is Istanbul’s first cemetery established in a contemporary structure. Planned in 1935, the burial place reached in the 1950s to its boundaries of today. It has an area of 0.381 km² (94.1 acre), which is completely full, excluding family graves.
A mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
within the cemetery, built and donated by the Turkish entrepreneur İbrahim Bodur, was opened to service on April 2, 2004. The mosque is specially constructed for burial prayers, and has a capacity of 500 people.
The office of the İstanbul Cemeteries Administration is located in the building at the entrance of the cemetery.
Over the gate of the cemetery a verse
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
from the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
reminds "Her canlı ölümü tadacaktır" (Every living thing will taste death).
Notable burials
Listed in alphabetical order of family names:- Sait Faik AbasıyanıkSait Faik AbasiyanikSait Faik Abasıyanık was one of the greatest Turkish writers of short stories and poetry. Born in Adapazarı, he was educated at the Bursa Erkek Lisesi. He enrolled in the Turcology Department of Istanbul University in 1928, but under pressure from his father went to Switzerland to study economics...
(1906–1954), writer - Yıldırım AktunaYıldırım AktunaYıldırım Aktuna was a Turkish psychiatrist, politician, district mayor and government minister in a number of cabinets.-Early years:...
(1930–2007), psychiatrist and politician - Sadri AlışıkSadri AlisikSadri Alışık, born Mehmet Sadrettin Alışık was a popular Turkish film actor.- Biography :...
(1925–1995), film actor - Cahit AralCahit AralHüseyin Cahit Aral was a Turkish engineer, politician and former government minister.Cahit Aral was born 1927 in Elazığ to primary school teacher parents Fatma and Hakkı Aral. His was named in honor of the writer and journalist Hüseyin Cahit Yalçın...
(1927-2011), engineer and former government minister - Oğuz AralOguz AralOğuz Aral was a Turkish political cartoonist.-Biography:Born in Silivri, Istanbul Province, he founded the cartoon magazine Gırgır with his brother Tekin Aral, and created such characters as "Avanak Avni" , "Köstebek Hüsnü" , "Utanmaz Adam" and "Vites Mahmut"...
(1936–2004), political cartoonist - Duygu AsenaDuygu AsenaDuygu Asena was a Turkish journalist, best-selling author and activist for women’s rights.-Life and career:...
(1946–2006), columnist, best seller author and activist for women’s rights - Turhan BaytopTurhan BaytopTurhan Baytop was a Turkish botanist from Istanbul.-Notable publications:*Türkiye'de Bitkiler ile Tedavi, 1984, ISBN 9754200211*The Bulbous Plants of Turkey, 1984...
(1920–2002), botanist - Behice BoranBehice BoranBehice Boran was a Turkish Marxist politician, author and sociologist. As a dissenting political voice from the left, Boran was repeatedly imprisoned for her work and died in exile after the Turkish military coup of 1980....
(1910–1987), Marxist sociologist, politician and author - Rıza Tevfik BölükbaşıRiza Tevfik BölükbasiRıza Tevfik was a Turkish philosopher, poet, politician and a community leader of late 19th century and early 20th century...
(1869–1949), philosopher, poet and politician - İhsan Sabri ÇağlayangilIhsan Sabri Çaglayangilİhsan Sabri Çağlayangil was a Turkish politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey for three terms; 1965-1971, 1975-1977, and 1977-1978. Caglayangil was Chairman of the Senate from November 7, 1979 to September 12, 1980. He was a member of the Justice Party .-Biography:He was...
(1908–1993), politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Senate - Faruk Nafiz ÇamlıbelFaruk Nafiz ÇamlibelFaruk Nafiz Çamlıbel was a leading Turkish poet, author and later politician.-Biography:He was born in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, in 1898. He completed his primary and secondary education in Istanbul...
(1898–1973), poet and politician - Belgin DorukBelgin DorukBelgin Doruk was a popular Turkish film actress.- Biography :Belgin Doruk was born in Ankara, Turkey in 1936. While she continued her education in a high school she took part in a competition and became first along with Ayhan Işık and Mahir Özerdem...
(1936–1995), film actress - Nejat EczacıbaşıNejat EczacibasiMehmet Nejat Ferit Eczacıbaşı, known simply as Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı, , a second generation member of the notable Turkish Eczacıbaşı family, was a chemist, industrialist, entrepreneur and philanthropist....
(1913-1993), chemist and businessman - Şakir EczacıbaşıŞakir EczacıbaşıŞakir Eczacıbaşı, , a second generation member of the notable Turkish Eczacıbaşı family, was a pharmacist, photographer and businessman....
(1929-2010), pharmacist, photographer and businessman - Çetin EmeçÇetin EmeçÇetin Emeç, was a prominent Turkish journalist and columnist, who was assassinated.-Early life:He was born to Selim Ragıp Emeç, journalist and later co-founder of the Democratic Party, and his wife Rabia Emeç. He had two sisters, Zeynep and Leyla, and a brother, Aydın.After finishing the...
(1935–1990), journalist - Nihat ErimNihat ErimIsmail Nihat Erim was a Turkish politician and jurist. Nihat Erim was born in Kandıra to Raif Erim and Macide Erim. He served as the prime minister of Turkey from 1971 until 1972, for almost 14 months...
(1912–1980), jurist, politician and Prime minister - Muhsin ErtuğrulMuhsin ErtugrulMuhsin Ertuğrul , aka Ertuğrul Muhsin Bey, was a Turkish actor and director.Muhsin Ertuğrul, who had important contributions to both Turkish theatre and Turkish cinema, was born in İstanbul on March 7, 1892...
(1892–1979), actor and director - Defne Joy FosterDefne Joy FosterDefne Joy Foster was a Turkish-American actress, presenter and VJ.-Early life:Foster was born on September 2, 1975 in İncirlik, Turkey. Her father Steve is an African American and her mother Hatice is a Turk from İzmir...
(1975–2011), actress, presenter, VJ - Aysel GürelAysel GürelAysel Gürel was a Turkish lyricist and actress. Besides her lyrics, which were performed by singers throughout Turkey, she was known for her outlandish clothing, make up and wigs....
(1929–2008), actress and lyricistLyricistA lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:... - Rıfat IlgazRifat IlgazRıfat Ilgaz was a poet who was born in Cide, Kastamonu, Turkey. He was a teacher, poet, and writer. Ilgaz was one of Turkey’s best-known and most prolific poets and writers, having authored over sixty works.-Biography:...
(1911–1993), poet and story writer - Ayhan IşıkAyhan IsikAyhan Işık, born Ayhan Işıyan was one of the most popular Turkish film actor.-Biography:He was born in İzmir, Turkey in 1929. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1953. He started to work as a painter and a graphic designer...
(1929–1979), film actor - Erdal İnönüErdal InönüErdal İnönü was a Turkish physicist and politician. He was the son of Turkey's second president İsmet İnönü...
(1926–2007), scientist and statesman - Abdi İpekçiAbdi IpekçiAbdi İpekçi was a Turkish journalist, intellectual and an activist for human rights. He was murdered while editor-in-chief of the Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet.-Biography:...
(1929–1979), journalist and intellectuel - İsmail Cem İpekçiIsmail Cemİsmail Cem İpekçi was a Turkish politician, journalist, statesman and former minister of foreign affairs.- Background :...
(1940–2007), politician, journalist and statesman - Remzi Aydın JöntürkRemzi Aydin JöntürkRemzi Aydın Jöntürk was a prominent Turkish film director, actor, screenwriter, producer as well as a sculptor and a paint artist...
(1936–1987), film director, film producer, screenwriter, painter and poet - Ömer KavurÖmer KavurÖmer Kavur was a Turkish film director, producer and screenwriter. He directed 14 films between 1974 and 2003. His film Gece Yolculuğu was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival...
(1944–2005), film director, film producer and screenwriter - Orhan KemalOrhan KemalOrhan Kemal is the pen name of Turkish novelist Mehmet Raşit Öğütçü. He is known for his realist novels that tells the stories of the poor in Turkey....
(1914–1970), novelist - Dündar KılıçDundar KilicDündar Kılıç was an infamous mob boss and legendary figure in the Turkish underworld. He earned himself the nickname of being the 'godfather of godfathers'.- Early life and rise in underworld :...
(1935–1999), mob boss - Vehbi KoçVehbi KoçVehbi Koç , born in Çoraklı, Ankara, Ottoman Empire, was a Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded the Koç Group, one of Turkey’s largest and most prestigious group of companies...
(1901–1996), entrepreneur and Turkey’s richest man - Behçet NecatigilBehçet NecatigilBehçet Necatigil was a leading Turkish author, poet and translator.-Biography:Behçet was born in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire, in 1916. He graduated from the Teachers' High School in Istanbul in 1940, and served as a teacher of literature until the year 1972...
(1916–1979), poet - Ali Fethi OkyarAli Fethi OkyarAli Fethi Okyar was a Turkish diplomat and politician who also served as a military officer and as a diplomat during the last decade of the Ottoman Empire...
(1880–1943), diplomat, politicani Prime minister and Speaker of the Parliament - Gündüz Tekin OnayGündüz Tekin OnayGündüz Tekin Onay was a Turkish footballer and coach who also trained Istanbul club Beşiktaş between 1976 and 1977. He is known for his success to discover starlets and his modesty...
(1942–2008), footballer and coach of Beşiktaş J.K.Besiktas J.K.Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey... - Zeki Ökten (1941–2009), film director
- Coşkun ÖzarıCoskun ÖzariCoşkun Özarı was a Turkish football player and coach.Born 1931 in Istanbul, Coşkun Özarı joined Galatasaray as a very young student. After graduating from Galatasaray Lycee, he first appeared in the Galatasaray starting line-up at the age of 17...
(1931-2011), footballer and national team coach - Halit RefiğHalit RefigHalit Refiğ was a Turkish film director, film producer, screenwriter and writer. He made around sixty films, including feature films, documentaries and TV serials...
(1934–2009), film director, film producer and screenwriter - Mehmet SabancıMehmet SabanciMehmet Sabancı , a member in third generation of the renowned Sabancı family in Turkey, was a businessman.Mehmet was born on April 25, 1963 in Adana as the third child and the second son of Hacı Sabancı...
(1963–2004), businessman - Sakıp SabancıSakip SabanciSakıp Sabancı was a prominent Turkish business tycoon and philanthropist.Born as the second son of a cotton trader, he worked in all the ranks of his father's business without completing high school. He was the head of Turkey's largest business conglomerate and 147th richest man on the Forbes list...
(1933–2004), entrepreneur and Turkey’s second richest man - Hasan SakaHasan SakaHasan Saka was a Turkish politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister of Turkey.-Political career:...
(1885–1960), politician and Prime minister - Şükrü SaracoğluSükrü SaracogluMehmet Şükrü Saracoğlu was a Turkish politician and the sixth Prime Minister of Republic of Turkey. He was also the chairman of Fenerbahçe S.K. for 16 years between 1934-1950, including his time as prime minister as well.-Biography:...
(1887–1953) Prime minister and president of Fenerbahçe S.K. - Türkan SaylanTürkan SaylanTürkan Saylan was a Turkish physician in dermatology. She was famous for fighting leprosy, and for founding a charitable foundation called "Association for the Support of Contemporary Living".- References :...
(1935–2009), Prof. Doctor, educator - Ömer SeyfettinÖmer SeyfettinÖmer Seyfettin, also Omer Seyfeddin, was a Turkish nationalist writer from late 19th to early 20th century, considered to be one of the greatest modern Turkish authors...
(1884–1920), novelist - Ruhi SuRuhi SuMehmet Ruhi Su was a Turkish opera singer, Turkish folk singer and saz virtuoso of Armenian origin.-Early life:Mehmet Ruhi Su was born 1912 in Van, Turkey to an Armenian family...
(1912–1985), folk music singer - Kemal SunalKemal SunalKemal Sunal was a master of comedy in the Turkish history of cinema. Famed for his parts as "İnek Şaban", "Tosun Paşa", "Kibar Feyzo", "Süt Kardeşler"...
(1944–2000), film actor and comedian - Naim TaluNaim TaluMehmet Naim Talu was a Turkish economist, banker, politician and former Prime Minister of Turkey.-Biography:...
(1919–1998), economist, banker, politician and Prime minister - Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan (1852–1937), poet and playwright
- Ahmet Kutsi TecerAhmet Kutsi TecerAhmet Kutsi Tecer was a Turkish poet and politician.-Biography:Born in Jerusalem, Tecer studied philosophy and started his career as a philosophy teacher. Then, he worked in the Education Ministry and was a member of parliament from 1942 to 1946...
(1901–1957), educator, poet and politician - Hakkı YetenHakki YetenHakkı Yeten, was a Turkish football player and president of the İstanbul-based football club Beşiktaş J.K., which he also coached....
(1910–1989), footballer and coach of Beşiktaş J.K.Besiktas J.K.Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...