Goodbye Taylan!

Yesterday I saw the news online. Taylan Kulaçoğlu has passed away. We followed each other on X. I saw him once or twice in my life. He had a bar in Taksim for a while, and I visited the bar and met him there. He was a sincere man. That’s what I can say about him. Our politics were never on the same page, and I eventually distanced myself from the radical politics he practiced. What I admire is his relentless and sincere pursuit of his causes. Not everyone can do that. It is a pity that Turkish activists lost a big soul. May he rest in peace.

Here is an obituary curated by Perplexity:

Taylan Kulaçoğlu, a courageous and outspoken left-wing political activist, has passed away at the age of 44 following a brain hemorrhage. His struggle ended after a period in intensive care, leaving behind a legacy marked by resilience, solidarity, and a tireless pursuit of justice.bianet+4

Early Life and Education

Born in 1981 to a Trabzonite father and a Van-native mother, Kulaçoğlu moved to France at age 15, where he gained French citizenship and completed part of his education. He eventually returned to Turkey in 2013, where his activism soon brought him to public attention.evrensel+1

Legacy of Activism

Kulaçoğlu’s name became widely known during the 2013 Gezi Park protests, a pivotal moment for dissent and grassroots mobilization in Turkey. He was frequently targeted by authorities—detained on several occasions in connection with the RedHack hacker collective, most notably accused of involvement in the hacking of government officials’ email accounts, including those of a sitting minister. Despite travel bans and ongoing legal pressures, Kulaçoğlu remained a vocal supporter of digital rights and social justice.kanal46+3

In 2020, he founded İsimsizler Hareketi (“The Movement of the Nameless”), amplifying marginalized voices and promoting digital activism. This led to another period of imprisonment; Kulaçoğlu spent seven months in jail and was subsequently restricted from leaving Balıkesir, where he resided.diken+3

Personal Character and Principles

Friends, colleagues, and activists consistently described Kulaçoğlu as sincere, generous, and resilient—a “usual suspect” in the eyes of the system, but a trusted comrade to those pursuing change. According to his lawyer Tamer Doğan, “There is deep pain in losing such a sincere, generous, and resilient person. Funeral details will be shared later. My condolences to us all.”bianet+2

Community Remembrances

Meral Danış-Beştaş, an MP with the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, shared, “Death is always early, but this is far too early. He lived a life marked by detentions and prison, always seen as a ‘usual suspect’ by the system. He left behind a legacy of struggle.”x+2

Farewell

Taylan Kulaçoğlu’s passing is mourned by family, friends, and countless activists for whom he was an enduring symbol of resistance and solidarity. His unwavering commitment to justice in a difficult public landscape will long inspire those searching for a fairer, more open tomorrow.haberler+2