President Gül asks for privacy during his son’s graduation from Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. / Hürriyet Razi Canikligil

Turkish President and his spouse, Hayrünnisa Gül, traveled to the United States at their own expense. Hürriyet Photo

Turkish President Abdullah Gül has traveled to the United States to attend his son Mehmet’s graduation ceremony at Harvard University, requesting that journalists respect the privacy of the moment.

“It was a beautiful ceremony. We managed to get all family members out for it,” Gül said after the graduation event held May 29. Turkish journalists were asked not to attend the ceremony during which graduate degrees were delivered to students.

Both the Turkish president and his spouse, Hayrünnisa Gül, traveled to Cambridge at their own expense.

The ceremony was also attended by former U.S. President George H. Bush and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who both received honorary doctorate certificates.



Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin also received an honorary doctorate during the same event.

Following the events, Gül held a private meeting with Bloomberg. Gül is also expected to attend a panel discussion at the Harvard Kennedy School on May 30 and hold a working lunch with CEOs from U.S. companies.