New biography honors legacy of Dr. Sadık Ahmet

A comprehensive new biography exploring the life, political struggle, and enduring legacy of Dr. Sadık Ahmet — a symbolic figure in the fight for the rights of Western Thrace Turks — has been published (in Turkish) under the title “The Long-Awaited Sun: Dr. Sadık Ahmet – A Leader’s Life, Struggle, and Legacy.” 

The book is authored by academic Dr. Murat Derin and published by Nobel Academic Publishing.

The book’s official launch took place during a panel organized as part of the commemorations marking the 30th anniversary of Dr. Sadık Ahmet’s passing.

Dr. Murat Derin, a faculty member at Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, is a longtime researcher on Western Thrace and the Balkans. This latest work is the third in a trilogy of studies documenting the historical and social memory of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.

His first book, “The Loud Voice of Western Thrace: The Friendship, Equality and Peace Party” explored the political history of the FEP Party, while his second work, “From Lausanne to Today: Turkish NGOs and Activities in Western Thrace”, provided an in-depth look into civil society efforts and minority rights advocacy in the region.

In “The Long-Awaited Sun,” readers will find previously unpublished excerpts from Dr. Sadık Ahmet’s prison diaries, a rich visual archive, notable quotes, and six main chapters chronicling key moments in his life.

Dr. Derin explained that the title of the book was inspired by an article written by Dr. Sadık Ahmet during his high school years for Akın newspaper. “In that piece, Sadık Ahmet wrote, ‘The Turks of Western Thrace need a sun to rise out of the darkness. And one day, that sun will rise...’ This sentence has become a historical truth — that long-awaited sun was none other than the leader who led his people toward the light,” Derin noted.

The book will soon be available at select bookstores and major online platforms across Turkiye.