Daily Hürriyet columnist receives Social Success Award from English organization

LONDON

DHA photo

Daily Hürriyet columnist, screenwriter and actress Gülse Birsel has received the Social Success Award from the Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) in London on Oct. 28. 

Birsel, who usually writes two humorous columns for daily Hürriyet a week evaluating the Turkish society and the daily issues most of the people in Turkey face, was awarded CEFTUS’ Social Success Award. 

Speaking after receiving her award during CEFTUS’ 4th anniversary gala dinner in London, Birsel said Turkey was not so cheerful lately due to the social issues it had to deal with but she wished this would be different when she meets the crowd again. 

“Turkey is in the doldrums lately, we do not really have the energy to laugh. But I hope and wish that the next time we meet our country [Turkey] will have reached peace and a first class democracy,” said Birsel. 

Birsel is also a comedian and screenwriter best known for writing and acting in two Turkish comedy series, “Avrupa Yakası” (the European Side) and “Yalan Dünya” (Fake Life). 

Reminding those in attendance, including MPs, that she was a comedian, Birsel started her speech by teasing about the hardships of obtaining a U.K. visa every time she came to the country and whether or not she could get a resident permit. 

“Can I get preferential treatment [for the permit]?” she asked jokingly. 

CEFTUS is an independent organization that was inaugurated in April 2011 in London with the aim of serving “as a Turkey-focused public policy forum for the British public and its communities originating from Turkey, and to create a dialogue between experts from Turkey and the U.K. with the aim to build bridges between the two countries and their peoples,” according to CEFTUS’ website.