Attendees included TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, Eurasian Writers’ Union President Ufuk Tuzman, as well as Ali Akbas, Omer Kayir, and other guests.
Sultan Raev began the ceremony with an emotional address to the late Omeroglu: “My dear friend and colleague Yakup,” reminiscing about their twenty-year friendship. Raev highlighted Omeroglu’s significant contributions to the unity of Turkic culture, noting, “His efforts have made over five hundred works from Turkic world literature accessible to Turkish readers through translations,” he said. Raev also mentioned that some of his own works had been translated into Turkish through Omeroglu’s efforts and expressed profound sadness, calling Yakup a “soldier of the Turkic world.”
“I never saw him work for personal gain”
In his heartfelt speech, Raev remarked that Omeroglu “always brought goodness, beauty, and cherished friendships from across the Turkic world.” He added that people were gathered at TURKSOY to honor Yakup, a figure respected not only in Türkiye but throughout the Turkic world.
“Death is God’s command. My brother Yakup, with his noble heart, has gone to Him. The work he did for Turkic unity will be remembered for years, and his good deeds will always live on in our hearts,” Raev concluded, closing his remarks with, “May your soul rest in peace.”
Ufuk Tuzman, poet Ali Akbas, and Omer Kayir also shared their memories of Yakup Omeroglu, bringing emotional moments to the ceremony.
The program concluded with a speech of gratitude from Omeroglu’s wife, Havva Omeroglu, and a group photo of attendees.
