Mehmet Ali Birand (9 December 1941 – 17 January 2013) was a Turkish journalist, political commentator and writer.
Biography He was born to İzzet and his wife Mürvet on 9 December 1941 in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. From his mother's side he was of Kurdish descent from Palu, Elazığ. Birand's father Şerif Bey settled in Ereğli, Zonguldak, and married a woman there named Seniye Hanım. Birand's maternal uncle was a diplomat, Mahmut Dikerdem.
He completed his high school education at Galatasaray High School.
Career Birand began his journalism career in 1964 by writing for the newspaper Milliyet. In 1992, he joined Show TV as a news presenter. Birand began hosting a political show titled 32. Gün (The 32nd Day), which was first on TRT in 1985 and then moved to other private TV channels such as CNN Türk and Show TV. He also presented the daily news on CNN Türk. Before his death in 2013, he worked at Kanal D, hosting the news.
He also authored several books including 30 Sıcak Gün, Diyet, Türkiye'nin Avrupa Macerası, 12 Eylül 04.00 and Emret Komutanım.
Birand was also a member of Galatasaray's Board and Uncommitted Governance Council.
In 2006, he said that JITEM had asked Mahmut Yıldırım (Yeşil) to assassinate him, but that the operation was later cancelled, after Yıldırım had already investigated Birand's home security. Birand said that MIT chief Şenkal Atasagun was one of those who had told him of this episode.Today's Zaman, 14 May 2006, JITEM Wanted to Kill Birand
Death Birand died on 17 January 2013 from complications of gallbladder surgery to replace a stent at the American Hospital in Istanbul. He had been receiving cancer treatment for a while. He was 71 years old.
Newspapers worked for 1964–1992 Milliyet 1992–1998 Sabah 1999–2013 Posta 2001–2013 Hürriyet 2001–2011 Milliyet
Works Diyet Türkiye'nin Avrupa Macerası 30 Sıcak Gün 12 Eylül 04.00 in English: The Generals' Coup in Turkey: An Inside Story of 12 September 1980 Emret Komutanım 32. Gün 10 Yılın Perde Arkası Mehmet Ali Birand Milliyet Yayınları / Aktüel Kitaplar Dizisi Nasreddin Hodja
Notes
External links A short biography of Mehmet Ali Birand Mehmet Ali Birand's Hürriyet archive