Üzeyir Garih
Encyclopedia
Üzeyir Garih was a prominent Turkish Jewish businessman and a cofounder of Alarko Holding
.
, Turkey
, and graduated from Istanbul Technical University
with a degree in mechanical engineering
. He started his professional life within the Turkish subsidiary of Carrier Corporation
. In 1954, he became one of the two founders of Alarko, in partnership with İshak Alaton
, and remained with Alaton the co-president of the company until his death.
Aside from his business activities, Üzeyir Garih was a very active participant in various private sector organizations, and a keen writer. He notably published a six volume account of his experiences, and a number of books on education, management and economy. He also frequently wrote articles for the press.
He is survived by his son İzzet, daughter Dalia, and wife Doron.
quarter of Eyüp
, while on one of his regular visits to the tomb of a Sufi sheikh
Küçük Hüseyin Efendi, to whose teachings he was attached along with his Jewish faith
.
His teenage grandson Tal Herzikowitz was kidnapped by men in police uniform as a warning to Garih's family not to investigate the murder. Tal fled to New York after being released.
A family friend, Doğan Kasadolu, alleged that Ergenekon was responsible for his assassination. A piece of evidence from his trial (a drawing of the shirt he was wearing at the time of his death) was found in the house of academic forensician Ümit Sayın,Sayın is a teacher at the Forensic Medicine Institute of Istanbul University, not the Forensic Medicine Council, as sometimes claimed. currently detained in the Ergenekon investigation. The drawing, assembled at the Forensic Medicine Institute and showing that Garih died after being stabbed six times in front and four times in the back, was not included in the files of the Yermez murder investigation.
According to Kasadolu, three reports about Garih's death were missing, and found in Sayın's possession. Kasadolu says Tal's father (Garih's son-in-law), Doron, told him that the kidnappers threatened to pin the assassination on the teenager.
The murderer, Yener Yermez, was tracked down and arrested ten days later; he is currently serving a life sentence. Yermez later wrote that he was offered $1.5m by Sayın for taking the fall.
It was claimed that Yermez was a thief, but Kasadolu pointed out that Yermez did not take Garih's $50,000 Rolex watch.
Sayın denies knowing or having met Yermez.
Newspapers have proffered tenuous links between Yermez, Ergenekon suspect Fikri Karadağ
and Murat Oğuz; partner in crime of Tuncay Güney
in issuing fake car licenses. When lieutenant Oğuz was arrested in 2001, Yermez was serving tea in Oğuz' unit at the Hasdal Military barracks in Eyüp. At the time, Ergenekon suspect Fikri Karadağ was allegedly the commander of the barracks' Mechanical Regiment ; the superior of Oğuz. (Karadağ says he was elsewhere; see below.) In addition, Yermez was a private under Karadağ for one term in 1981.
It is alleged that Garih's murder took place after he resisted extortion from Veli Küçük, who was raising money to finance a plot to overthrow the government of Azerbaijan (cf. Susurluk scandal
). Garih and Küçük formerly had an agreement wherein Küçük helped sort out Garih's business problems in Turkic states in return for a fee. This continued until Garih's brother, İshak, protested. Küçük's men twice warned Garih to pay up, then had him killed, according to the allegations.
Karadağ said that he transferred, not from the Hasdal barracks as claimed, but the Sakarya barracks, to the War Academy in May 1998 (and was there in 2001).
The records presented in the indictment's annex say otherwise.
Alarko Holding
Alarko Holding is one of the largest business conglomerates in Turkey; it is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. It was founded by İshak Alaton and Üzeyir Garih.-References:* at Biyografi.net...
.
Biography
He was born in 1929 in IstanbulIstanbul
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...
, and graduated from Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey...
with a degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. He started his professional life within the Turkish subsidiary of Carrier Corporation
Carrier Corporation
The Carrier Corporation is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, and a global leader in the commercial refrigeration and food service equipment industry...
. In 1954, he became one of the two founders of Alarko, in partnership with İshak Alaton
Ishak Alaton
İshak Alaton is a prominent Turkish Jewish businessman and a founding partner of the Alarko group of companies.-Biography:...
, and remained with Alaton the co-president of the company until his death.
Aside from his business activities, Üzeyir Garih was a very active participant in various private sector organizations, and a keen writer. He notably published a six volume account of his experiences, and a number of books on education, management and economy. He also frequently wrote articles for the press.
He is survived by his son İzzet, daughter Dalia, and wife Doron.
Assassination
Üzeyir Garih was stabbed to death on 25 August 2001 in the cemetery of the historic İstanbulIstanbul
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...
quarter of Eyüp
Eyüp
-External links:* * * * *...
, while on one of his regular visits to the tomb of a Sufi sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Küçük Hüseyin Efendi, to whose teachings he was attached along with his Jewish faith
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
His teenage grandson Tal Herzikowitz was kidnapped by men in police uniform as a warning to Garih's family not to investigate the murder. Tal fled to New York after being released.
A family friend, Doğan Kasadolu, alleged that Ergenekon was responsible for his assassination. A piece of evidence from his trial (a drawing of the shirt he was wearing at the time of his death) was found in the house of academic forensician Ümit Sayın,Sayın is a teacher at the Forensic Medicine Institute of Istanbul University, not the Forensic Medicine Council, as sometimes claimed. currently detained in the Ergenekon investigation. The drawing, assembled at the Forensic Medicine Institute and showing that Garih died after being stabbed six times in front and four times in the back, was not included in the files of the Yermez murder investigation.
According to Kasadolu, three reports about Garih's death were missing, and found in Sayın's possession. Kasadolu says Tal's father (Garih's son-in-law), Doron, told him that the kidnappers threatened to pin the assassination on the teenager.
The murderer, Yener Yermez, was tracked down and arrested ten days later; he is currently serving a life sentence. Yermez later wrote that he was offered $1.5m by Sayın for taking the fall.
It was claimed that Yermez was a thief, but Kasadolu pointed out that Yermez did not take Garih's $50,000 Rolex watch.
Sayın denies knowing or having met Yermez.
Newspapers have proffered tenuous links between Yermez, Ergenekon suspect Fikri Karadağ
Fikri Karadag
Mehmet Fikri Karadağ is a retired Turkish army colonel who was indicted for treason in the Ergenekon investigation for allegedly heading ultra-nationalist organizations called the Association for the Union of Patriotic Forces , and the Kuvayı Milliye Derneği .- Posts :Mehmet Fikri Karadağ is a...
and Murat Oğuz; partner in crime of Tuncay Güney
Tuncay Güney
Tuncay Güney , code name "Ipek" , is a Turkish citizen who claims to have infiltrated the Turkish Gendarmerie's intelligence organization JITEM, Ergenekon, the Workers' Party, and the Gülen movement before being outed. He is subordinate to Mehmet Eymür, who was discharged from the National...
in issuing fake car licenses. When lieutenant Oğuz was arrested in 2001, Yermez was serving tea in Oğuz' unit at the Hasdal Military barracks in Eyüp. At the time, Ergenekon suspect Fikri Karadağ was allegedly the commander of the barracks' Mechanical Regiment ; the superior of Oğuz. (Karadağ says he was elsewhere; see below.) In addition, Yermez was a private under Karadağ for one term in 1981.
It is alleged that Garih's murder took place after he resisted extortion from Veli Küçük, who was raising money to finance a plot to overthrow the government of Azerbaijan (cf. Susurluk scandal
Susurluk scandal
The Susurluk scandal was a scandal involving the close relationship between the Turkish government, the armed forces, and organized crime. It took place during the peak of the Turkey–Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict, in the mid-1990s...
). Garih and Küçük formerly had an agreement wherein Küçük helped sort out Garih's business problems in Turkic states in return for a fee. This continued until Garih's brother, İshak, protested. Küçük's men twice warned Garih to pay up, then had him killed, according to the allegations.
Karadağ said that he transferred, not from the Hasdal barracks as claimed, but the Sakarya barracks, to the War Academy in May 1998 (and was there in 2001).
The records presented in the indictment's annex say otherwise.