Osman Türkay Commemorated in the House of Lords

Osman Türkay, a universally recognized figure in Turkish Cypriot literature and the first Turkish Cypriot poet to be nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, was honoured in a meaningful event held in London.

Hosted by prominent British politician Lord Balfe, the commemoration took place in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK Parliament, and also featured the launch of the book Osman Türkay: The Poet of Space. The event was organized by the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations (CTCA) in the UK, with contributions and sponsorship from the Limasollular Association and Mediwell Clinic.

The ceremony was attended by guests, including Turkish Consul to London T. Oğuzhan Gönültaş, TRNC London Consul İsmail Şahinoğlu, Harrow Mayor Anjana Patel, CTCA President Kenan Nafi, CTCA Youth President Yasemin Nafi, TWPA President Seyyare Beyzade, Turkish Cypriot Youth Union UK President İsmayil İbrahim, Limasollular Association President Arife Retvan, and representatives from Mediwell Clinic, among many others.

Former Turkish Ambassador to London Ünal Çeviköz also sent a special message to the event, expressing his respect for Osman Türkay. Türkay’s nephew, Tuncay Özdoğanoğlu, attended the evening and delivered words of gratitude on behalf of the family.

During the night, the book The Poet of Space: Osman Türkay was introduced, and several speeches were given on the poet’s universal literary vision and cultural legacy. A selection of Türkay’s poems was emotionally performed by actress Pip Franks, deeply moving the audience.