Top state officials bid farewell to former President Gül’s father

KAYSERİ

Former Turkish President Abdullah Gül’s father, who died on May 7 due to old age, was laid to rest in his hometown Kayseri at a funeral attended by top state officials on May 8. 

Ahmet Hamdi Gül, 91, died at the Acıbadem Kayseri Hospital.

On May 5, Gül, Turkey’s 11th president, visited his father in Kayseri. 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Parliament Speaker İsmail Kahraman and former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu were among politicians who attended the funeral prayer held at Kayseri’s Cami-i Kebir mosque. 

The head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs, Mehmet Görmez, was also present at the funeral to lead the prayers. Gül and Erdoğan were seen moved to tears.

Gül, Erdoğan, Yıldırım, Kılıçdaroğlu and some of the ministers carried Gül’s coffin to the funeral coach.
 
Gül accepted locals’ condolences over his father’s death. “May God bless everyone. They have not left us alone,” he told reporters.  

The deceased’s wife, Adeviye Gül, thanked visitors who offered their condolences. “Mr. Ahmet Hamdi has not for one day hurt me. He has passed away without suffering a lot,” she said.