Winners announced at the 5th Martyr Mustafa Cambaz Photography Awards
The winners of the 5th Martyr Mustafa Cambaz Photography Awards were honored during a ceremony held at Democracy and Freedoms Island, commemorating the legacy of Yeni Şafak photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz, who was killed during the July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye.
Originally from the village of Menetler in Western Thrace, Cambaz was remembered for both his contribution to photojournalism and his personal story. Organizers highlighted that he opposed discrimination against the Turkish minority in Greece from a young age, completed his education in Türkiye, and renounced Greek citizenship rather than serve in the Greek military.
The ceremony opened with a recitation from the Quran, followed by a documentary on Cambaz’s life and a screening of *Hafıza*, a film produced by Yeni Şafak about the failed coup attempt.
Yeni Şafak Editor-in-Chief Hüseyin Likoğlu said the annual competition aims to preserve Cambaz’s legacy while encouraging photography enthusiasts and keeping alive the memory of the July 15 events.
Jury Chairman Fırat Yurdakul described the competition as more than an awards program, saying it honors courage, commitment to truth and professional ethics. He added that the jury evaluated entries based not only on technical quality but also on their storytelling power and human value.
Awards were presented in four main categories—News Photography of the Year, Cultural and Historical Photography, Next Generation Photography (Mobile Phone), and Next Generation Photography (Drone)—along with the special “Complete the Story” award.
The competition awarded TRY 200,000 to first-place winners, TRY 150,000 to second-place winners, and TRY 100,000 to third-place winners in each main category. The “Complete the Story” Special Award also carried a prize of TRY 200,000.
This year’s special award recognized photographs of the historic Habib-i Neccar Mosque in Antakya, with freelance photographer Mustafa Kılıç receiving the honor for his image titled *Sunrise on Eid*.
Among the ceremony’s notable moments, Palestinian photographer Saeed M.M.T. Jaras, who placed second in the News Photography category, was unable to attend due to the blockade affecting Gaza and sent a video message instead.
Awards were presented by Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and members of the Turkish Parliament.
