Metin Toker (1924 – 18 July 2002) was a Turkish journalist and writer.

Life

He was born in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

. After finishing Galatasaray High School, he studied French philology at

Istanbul University Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (), is a Public university, public research university located in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded by Mehmed II on May 30, 1453, a day after Fall of Constantinople, the conquest of Constantinop ...

graduating in 1948. He then went to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

to study

Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...

s. In 1955 after returning home, he married Özden İnönü, the daughter of İsmet İnönü, the second president of Turkey (in office 1938–1950) and the leader of the

Republican People's Party The Republican People's Party (RPP; , CHP ) is a Kemalism, Kemalist and Social democracy, social democratic political party in Turkey. It is the oldest List of political parties in Turkey, political party in Turkey, founded by Mustafa Kemal ...

. Metin Toker died on 18 July 2002 in Ibni Sina Hospital of

Ankara University Ankara University () is a public university, public research university in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in Turkey after the History of the Republic of Turkey, formation of the Turkish republ ...

. He was laid to rest at the Cebeci Asri Cemetery in Ankara. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, Gülsün Bilgehan, Nurperi Özlen, a son Güçlü, and his grandchild named Maya.

Career

While still in France, he began writing for the newspaper '' Cumhuriyet'' and made a name in journalism. Between 1954 and 1968, Toker published a political magazine named '' Akis'' ("Echo"). But during this time, he was tried and sentenced in a number of cases for his articles published. He continued publishing the periodical until 1968. After 1968, he became a columnist in the daily '' Milliyet''. According to Turkish constitution between 1961 and 1980, the presidents had the power of appointing 15 senators in addition to elected members of the Turkish Senate. Between 1977 and 1980, Metin Toker served as senator appointed by President Fahri Korutürk. Following the dissolution of the parliament as a result of

1980 Turkish coup d'état The 1980 Turkish coup d'état (), headed by Chief of the General Staff General Kenan Evren, was the third coup d'état in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the previous having been the 1960 coup and the 1971 coup by memorandum. During ...

, he returned to journalism.

Books

Metin Toker translated Richard Llewellyn's novel '' How Green Was My Valley'' into Turkish with the title "''Vadim O kadar Yeşildi ki''" . His other books are documentaries and memoirs about the near history of Turkey.Metin Toker:''İsmet Paşanın Son Yılları'', Bilgi yayınevi, 1993, * ''Bir Diktatörün İktidar Yolu'' * ''İsmet Paşayla On Yıl'' (7 volumes) * ''Rus geldi Aşka, Rusun Aşkı başka'' * ''Şeyh Sait İsyanı'' * ''Avrupa Birşeyler Arıyor'' * ''Dört Buhranlı Yıl'' * ''Tek Partiden Çok Partiye'' * ''Türkiye Üzerinde 1945 Kabusu'' * ''Solda ve Sağda Vuruşanlar'' * ''Orak ile Çekiç arasında kalanlar'' * ''Not Defterinden'' * ''İsmet Paşa'nın Son Yılları'' (1993) Bilgi yayınevi

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toker, Metin 2002 deaths 1924 births Turkish journalists Writers from Istanbul Galatasaray High School alumni Istanbul University alumni Turkish non-fiction writers Burials at Cebeci Asri Cemetery Cumhuriyet people Milliyet people Members of the Senate of the Republic (Turkey) Turkish columnists 20th-century Turkish journalists Turkish magazine founders