Ahmet İsvan
Turkish politician and agronomist (1923–2017)
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Ahmet İsvan (1923–2017) was a leftist Turkish politician. He served as the mayor of Istanbul between 1973 and 1977. He was among the pioneers of the municipal socialism in Turkey.
Ahmet İsvan | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Istanbul | |
| In office 1973 – December 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Fahri Atabey |
| Succeeded by | Aytekin Kotil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1923 İstanbul, Turkey |
| Died | 1 May 2017 (aged 93–94) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Resting place | Taşköprü, Yalova |
| Party | Republican People's Party (until 12 September 1980) |
Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Populist Party |
| Spouse | Reha İsvan |
| Children | 3 |
| Robert College | |
Early life and education
İsvan was born in Istanbul in 1923.[1] His father was a bureaucrat working in the state-owned Sümerbank.[1] He was a graduate of Robert College[2] where he first met Bülent Ecevit, future leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP).[3] İsvan, Bülent Ecevit and his wife Rahşan were all 1944 graduates of Robert College.[3] İsvan studied agronomy in the USA.[2]
Career and activities
İsvan bought a farm in Taşköprü, Yalova, after his studies.[1] He joined the CHP's Yalova organization.[1] From the early 1970s he became active in the CHP's Istanbul organization.[3] In the 1973 local election he was elected as the mayor of Istanbul from CHP, replacing Fahri Atabey in the post.[1][4] Bülent Ecevit asked him to run for the office.[3] Isvan took 56.12% of votes in the election.[4] Isvan's tenure ended in December 1977 since he lost the pre-election carried out before the local elections.[4] He was replaced by Aytekin Kotil, a fellow CHP member, in the post.[4] Isvan established the Istanbul People’s Bread during his term as mayor to sell cheap but quality bread to those in need in the city.[5] In 1977 Isvan and other CHP mayors, including Ankara mayor Vedat Dalokay and İzmit mayor Erol Köse issued a declaration on the municipal socialism.[6]
Following the military coup on 12 September 1980 İsvan was arrested and imprisoned for 27 months.[7] The reason for his arrest was his alleged role in the 1 May demonstrations organized by the DISK, a leftist confederation of trade unions.[7] It is reported by David Barchard that Isvan had been tortured in prison.[8] After his release from prison İsvan got involved in agricultural activities at his farm in Taşköprü.[1] Later he joined the Social Democratic Populist Party, being a member of its council.[7] In the party İsvan was part of the left-wing faction alongside Seyfi Oktay and Cevdet Selvi.[9]
Personal life and death
İsvan met his future wife, Reha, while studying at Robert College.[1] They married in 1950[10] when he returned to Turkey following his graduation from the California University.[1] They had three children.[3][10]
İsvan died in Istanbul on 1 May 2017.[7] Funeral prayers for him were performed at the Teşvikiye Mosque, Istanbul, and he was buried in Taşköprü next to his wife who had died on 8 May 2013.[10]
Work
İsvan was the author of several books including Başkent gölgesinde İstanbul (Turkish: Istanbul in the shadow of the capital) published by İletişim Publications in 2002[2] and Köprüler gelip geçmeye. Tarımda bir modernleşme (Turkish: Bridges to come and go. Modernization in agriculture) published in 2009.[1]
