Turkey Mourns Death of Academic Sadun Aren

Turkey mourns the death of Sadun Aren, a professor in political sciences as well as a co-founder of the Turkish Workers’ Party (TIP). He died in hospital, at the age of 85.

Born in 1922 in Erzurum, eastern Turkey, he graduated in political sciences and became assistant professor in 1950.

He co-founded the Turkish Workers’ Party (TIP) and entered parliament as a TIP parliamentarian for Istanbul in 1965.

He was arrested both in the aftermath of the military coups in 1971 and in 1980 and spent several years in prison each time.

Aren was a member of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Trade Unions (DISK) and was honorary chair of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP).

He wrote articles for newspapers and magazines, as well as books on the economy.

The Union of Civil Servants awarded him the Great Civil Service Prize in 2007. (NZ/AG)