Gülen-linked woman dies in Greece as she waits to join husband in Germany


Date posted: April 29, 2018

Esma Uludağ, a 35-year-old Turkish woman who fled to Greece due to an ongoing government-led crackdown on the followers of the Gülen movement, died of a heart attack on Saturday night as she was waiting to join her husband in Germany.

A mother of three children aged 3, 7 and 10, Uludağ was a civil servant in the Karabağlar district governor’s office in İzmir province until she was dismissed over alleged links to the Gülen movement by a government decree issued under an ongoing state of emergency declared in the aftermath of a military coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The woman also remained behind bars for three months and then released on judicial probation.

The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding the failed coup, although the movement strongly denies any involvement.

Her husband, Mehmet Ali Uludağ (38), had to leave Turkey due to a number of investigations launched into him and detention warrants issued for him over his alleged ties to the movement. He first fled to Greece and then sought asylum in Germany.

As he succeeded in obtaining a residence permit in Germany, his wife Esma Uludağ, together with her three children, crossed the Evros River about six months ago and took refuge in Greece. The woman and her children were waiting in Athens for family unification.

However, Esma Uludağ unexpectedly suffered a stroke on Saturday night. She was taken to a hospital in an ambulance that reportedly took 40 minutes to arrive at the scene. She passed away despite doctors’ efforts in the hospital.

Uludağ’s body is reportedly going to be taken to Turkey for funeral services after completion of an autopsy and official procedures in Greece.

According to the aktifhaber news website, Esma Uludağ was an avid student and had several university degrees. She graduated from the physics department of İzmir-based Dokuz Eylül University in 2007. She had a master’s degree from Celal Bayar University in Bolu in 2009 and later graduated from the Gediz University Vocational School of Justice as the most successful student, having an average grade of 3.89 out of 4. Esma received her diploma with her children, 8-year-old Veli Said, 4-year old Müşerref Zümra and 38-day old Ceyda.

Thousands of people have fled Turkey due to the witch-hunt carried out by the Turkish government against sympathizers of the Gülen movement. Many tried to escape Turkey by illegal means as the government had cancelled their passports like thousands of others. On Feb 13, 2018 at least three people died and five others went missing after a boat carrying a group of eight capsized in the Evros River while seeking to escape the post-coup crackdown in Turkey.

Greece’s asylum service says more than 1,800 Turkish citizens requested sanctuary in 2017, a tenfold increase over the previous year. This puts Greece in second place behind Germany as an EU destination of choice for Turks believed to be fleeing the sweeping measures following the coup bid.

 

Source: Turkish Minute , April 29, 2018


Related News

More Academics, Teachers, Charity Staff Detained Over Alleged Gülen Links

Tens of academics, teachers, university staff and aid organization personnel were detained by police in Turkey over alleged links with Gülen movement.

Turkish Government Imprisons One More Mother With Her Baby Over Links To Gülen Movement

Turkish government, which has imprisoned 668 babies so far, has imprisoned one more mother together with her one-year-old daughter on Friday over her alleged links to the Gülen movement. Teacher Emine Toraman was sent to Yalova Prison together with her baby Saliha while her 6-year-old daughter Nesibe was left to her grandmother.

Jailed teacher dies of cancer in Turkish prison

One more Turkish teacher lost his life on Monday because of maltreatment and negligence of Turkish authorities during his stay in prison under the rule of emergency declared in the aftermath of a controversial coup attempt on July 15, 2016 in Turkey.

Yet another woman detained due to Gülen links shortly after delivery

Sultan Çetintaş, who gave birth on Monday to her third child in the Turkish province of İzmir, was detained on Tuesday over alleged links to the faith-based Gülen movement. Çetintaş was taken to the courthouse with her one-day-old baby after undergoing a C-section.

Kenya: Investigate Deportation of Turkish National

Kenyan authorities should investigate the alleged abduction and eventual deportation of Selahaddin Gülen to Turkey despite a Kenyan court order prohibiting his deportation, Human Rights Watch said today.

Abduction of Kacmaz Family – The dark side

They travel in groups now, never alone; and each time the doorbell rings, they dread the worst. Their homes are beco­ming emptier; personal possessions are being sold off. The Turkish community here is scared.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Bride, groom detained in bridal car while on way to wedding venue

Conference on “Hunger in the world and searching for ways to solve it”

72-year-old Turkish man detained over coup charges

Gülen’s Dialogue on Education: A Caravanserai of Ideas

The Turkish School in Kathmandu made a dream come true

Purge-victim mother of three dies of heart attack

Izetbegovic praises Turkish schools and universities abroad

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News