Londra Gazete’s columnist Dr İsmail Kemal passed away on Monday 1 June 2020.
After a long battle with cancer, at the age of 65, he sadly passed away in the south of Cyprus, Today (3 June) a ceremony was held in the south of the capital at the Bayraktar Mosque where his family, friends and colleagues were able to say their final goodbye at the local time 1.30 pm.
Tomorrow (Thursday 4 June) he will take his final journey to rest at Lefke Cemetery in North Cyprus, where family, friend and followers will have a chance to say their final goodbye.
A columnist for Londra Gazete since it was established in 2001, he reached our readers with his pieces featured in our newspaper and online weekly under the title “Düşünüyorum” (I’m thinking) until early this year with his final article “Trump’ın Ortadoğu planı”(Trump’s Middle East plan) published on January 30 2020.
Kemal gave readers his insight and expertise on thousands of issues on international affairs. Dr Ismail Kemal was an international relations specialist, academician and columnist.
Dr Kemal lived in the south of Cyprus, where he taught at the University of Cyprus in the Department of Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies. The University shared a statement on his passing: “The University of Cyprus, the Department of Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies faculty members and staff sent a farewell message İsmail Kemal was a dedicated teacher and a beloved colleague who had worked as a Special Education Staff since 1992 when our department was opened. He was respected for his humility, kindness and diligence.”
Ismail Kemal was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on the 7 of July 1954. During 1973-1978 he studied at Istanbul University, Turkey and was one of the founders of the Cypriot Federation of Education and Youth (KÖGEF). After political unrest, he went to Bulgaria in 1978 where he graduated from Philosophy department at Sofia University in 1989. He continued his education at the University of London for 2 years with gaining a bachelor’s degree in “International Relations” and “Sociology” in 1990. He also furthered his education and completed his master’s degree in International Relations at Indianapolis University (ΜΑ) in American and his doctorate (PhD) at Sofia University.
After his return to Cyprus, he worked at political party AKEL for 2 years before he took on his role at the University of Cyprus, where he also gave language courses in the field of research as well as lectures on the history of modern Turkey. Kemal’s knowledge in langue was vast he knew Turkish, Greek, English, Bulgarian and Russian. He also collaborated with the Ministry of Education and Culture in the preparation of Turkish education and exam tests in secondary education and worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the planned Turkish translation of the European Legal Framework.
Over the past 30 years, Dr Kemal’s article has been published in Toplum Postasi, Kıbrıs Gazetesi and Londra Gazete. As well as appearing on countless television programs and conferences and panels in North and South Cyprus as an expert on the Cyprus issue.
As news of his passing was shared messages from present to past political leaders in North Cyprus were shared.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s (TRNC) President Mustafa Akıncı shared a message for İsmail Kemal, wishing mercy from God, his family’s health and patience
TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar said, “I have learned with sorrow the death of İsmail Kemal, a commentator for BRT and columnist for the Kıbrıs Gazetesi. I would like to extend my condolences to his family and loved ones. ”
TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret Özersay said: “Someone who was able to establish relationships with everyone on a level and mutual respect basis, He spoke accordingly, reading and studying in detail, from time to time our talks meeting and I benefited from his knowledge. Unfortunately, we’ve lost international relations specialist İsmail Kemal. My condolences to his family, followers and friends. This is an important loss for the island, be in the lights… ”
Former TRNC President Ali Talat shared a message saying: “My dear friend, with great sadness we have lost Ismail Kemal. Our comradeship from the establishment of KÖGEF and then since we have always remained friends. I would like to express my condolences his family and friends. May you sleep in the lights. ”
Here at Londra Gazete, we send our condolences to his family, friends and followers. May our dear colleague İsmail Kemal rest in peace.
