The Columbia World Affairs Council and the Atlantic Institute of South Carolina invite you to a luncheon program to discuss the recent turmoil in Turkey, with a particular lens on the essential role of journalism in a democracy. We will be featuring the voice of a prominent newspaper executive, Mr. Abdülhamit Bilici, recently exiled for his political opinions.

Bilici is a Turkish newspaper executive in exile following recent political turmoil and government oppression of the media in Turkey. Before leaving the country, he served as editor-in-chief of the newspaper Zaman Daily, the largest daily newspaper in Turkey, and CEO of its English-language version, Today’s Zaman. Bilici also served as general director of Cihan News Agency and as editor of Aksiyon Weekly Magazine.

Bilici is an expert on Turkish politics and is widely sought as a speaker on the ongoing political crisis. He is editor of the book Why Turkey? which combines different perspectives on Turkey-EU relations.