Turkish Embassy Honors Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy

During the week commemorating the anniversary of the Turkish National Anthem's lyricist and poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy, a symposium titled "My Father's Friend Mehmet Akif" was held at the Turkish Embassy residence in Cairo. 

The event was presented by Professor Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, former Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and author of "The Turks in Egypt and Their Cultural Legacy." In his opening speech, the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Saleh Mutlu Cin, highlighted Ersoy's significant impact on the Turkish nation's morale and future through his inspirational works.

Ambassador Cin emphasized Ersoy's profound influence on the psyche and characters of Turkey's current ruling cadres. He noted that Ersoy lived in Egypt (in the Helwan area) for ten years, producing many works during this time, underscoring his significant role in strengthening the bond between the Turkish and Egyptian peoples.

The ambassador assured that efforts to honor the national poet's memory would continue, with projects planned to keep his legacy alive for future generations. He pointed out that Professor İhsanoğlu, born and raised in Egypt until the age of 27, was best positioned to discuss Ersoy due to his father's close friendship with the poet.

The seminar was attended by numerous professors, academics, and intellectuals from Egyptian universities' Turkish language departments, a large group of students from the Yunus Emre Institute in Cairo, and several Egyptian journalists. This gathering aimed to share knowledge and insights about Mehmet Akif Ersoy with the Egyptian public, celebrating the enduring cultural ties between Turkey and Egypt.