Ertürk Yöndem, who presented the TRT programme Perde Arkası for many years from 1988 onward, has produced more than 500 programmes. He travelled to Cyprus as a journalist during the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation and was captured by Greek Cypriot forces on 17 August 1974, suffering torture for six days in Limassol. Under difficult conditions, he obtained the names of more than 70 Turkish Cypriots from Baf who were held in the same camp, helping secure their release.
Cem Kar, who brought this little-known story to light through his interview “A Captured Journalist: Ertürk Yöndem,” received the Interview of the Year award from the Turkish Cypriot Promotion Association.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Kar said he was working to bring together the Baf Turkish Cypriots mentioned in the interview who were still alive and Ertürk Yöndem, and that this was his greatest wish.
Footage from the award ceremony at the Association’s founding anniversary ball, along with a summary of the interview, can be viewed here: