Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Philanthropist and Businessman Asaf Atasoy, published a message on the occasion of “December 10th World Human Rights Day”.

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 77 years ago in 1948, “December 10” is a special day that emphasizes our respect for human rights and the importance of these rights.

The right to life is undoubtedly humanity’s most fundamental and important right. This is followed by human emotions and behaviors such as unity, solidarity, love, respect, brotherhood, and friendship, regardless of religion, language, race, or gender.

Unfortunately, human rights and freedoms are still being violated worldwide, and crimes against humanity are being committed before the eyes of the world. The worst human rights violation is taking place in Gaza. Israel is committing massacres in Gaza, indiscriminately targeting babies, children, the elderly, and women, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Our state stands against the oppressor and stands with the oppressed, demonstrating its strongest condemnation of Israel’s inhumane attacks against our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza. It is working diligently to mobilize the international community to stop the massacre in Gaza. Furthermore, it is spearheading humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Human rights are not just a matter for a specific region or segment of society, but for all of humanity. This must be achieved through the combined efforts of states, civil society, international organizations, and every individual.

Throughout history, our country has made significant contributions to a culture of peace worldwide by embracing diverse cultures and has always been a pioneer in international efforts to protect and promote fundamental human rights and freedoms. Our country will continue to be a leader, a reliable, and an exemplary implementer by working to eliminate the obstacles that prevent international human rights standards from being implemented for everyone.

With these feelings and thoughts, I hope that December 10th, World Human Rights Day, brings peace, tranquility, and happiness to all humanity; I hope we live in a world where human rights and freedoms are protected and observed, where there is no discrimination or violation, and where all troubles come to an end.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: December 7, 2025

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, November 24th, which is the anniversary of Head Teacher Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s acceptance of the “Head Teacher of the National Schools”, I congratulate all our teachers with love and sincerity.

Teaching, one of the most honorable professions in the world, is a valuable and sacred profession that requires effort, devotion, patience and tolerance, and whose value cannot be measured by any financial reward.

Teachers are the heart and soul of a society. Raising virtuous and moral generations that embrace society is possible through the extraordinary efforts and success of our teachers. Undoubtedly, true success lies in “good morals.” Beyond raising successful individuals, and even more importantly, shaping generations armed with our values, reflecting one another, and keeping their consciences watchful over themselves will only be possible through the hands of our teachers. Indeed, Head Teacher Atatürk’s description of teaching as an “army of wisdom” expresses this same perspective.

Head Teacher Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasized the importance of the teaching profession, which serves as a bridge between the past and the future, by saying, “Society’s greatest enemy is ignorance, and the enemy of ignorance is the teacher. The teacher is the teacher of the past and the founder of the future. The future belongs to the youth. And the youth are the work of the teachers.”

With these feelings and thoughts, I wholeheartedly salute all our teachers who work tirelessly, day and night, in every corner of our country, under all circumstances and conditions, sparing no sacrifice to instill in our children, the light of their eyes, knowledge and wisdom, truth and beauty, universal values, morality and spirituality, patriotism and love for the nation.

I remember with mercy and gratitude our teachers who were martyred in the line of duty, especially Head Teacher Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, and our esteemed teachers who have passed away. I wish a blessed, healthy, happy, and long life to our teachers who have fulfilled their duties, raised generations that have been beneficial to their country and nation, and are now retiring.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

We commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, with mercy, gratitude and respect on the 87th anniversary of his passing.

Atatürk, who devoted his life to his country and nation, led the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, which is independent and based on national sovereignty, with the strength and support he received from his nation, despite the difficult conditions and limited resources in our country.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who once again showed the world that the Turkish Nation cannot be held captive, is a leader who sheds light on the entire world not only with the victories he won and the works he bestowed upon us, but also with his profound thoughts and the ideas he put forward.

Our duty today is to work harder as a nation in unity and solidarity in order to look to the future with confidence and to achieve the goal of contemporary civilization set by Atatürk, with the strength we derive from our past.

Understanding Atatürk requires a thorough understanding of his ideas and their application. The founding of the Republic of Turkey rewrote an era. Atatürk, who led the Turkish nation, whose fire for independence never extinguished even when every corner of the country was under occupation, became the architect of the greatest war of independence in history, a war where faith transformed into victory, believing that our nation would not bow down to captivity.

We will never forget Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, and all the heroes of our struggle for independence who selflessly became martyrs and veterans for our homeland, who showed the whole world that a nation can never be destroyed unless its determination and will to live together and independently is broken.

We commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic and the architect of our independence, whom we bid farewell to the eternal realm on November 10, 1938, with mercy, gratitude, and respect on the 87th anniversary of his passing. May his soul rest in peace.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

We are experiencing the pride and joy of celebrating together, in national unity and solidarity, the 102nd anniversary of the proclamation of our Republic by the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.

The Republic is the result of a great victory achieved by a nation following a national struggle undertaken with faith and determination to achieve independence, despite all kinds of impossibilities, with love for the country, freedom and independence.

Our beloved nation, which has defended its independence and future with an unprecedented heroic epic in history, has maintained its unity and solidarity today, as it did in the past, and has known how to unite and be united with tighter ties.

In the 102 years since the founding of our Republic on October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey has taken its place among the rising powerful countries of the world and made significant progress with its growing economy, breakthroughs in the fields of health, education, science and culture, and strong democracy.

The Republic of Türkiye will continue to advance with confident steps on the bright path that lies before it and will walk towards the future with hope.

With these feelings and thoughts, I commemorate with mercy our cherished martyrs who made these lands our homeland, especially Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, and our veterans with gratitude and respect, and I congratulate the 102nd anniversary of the founding of our Republic.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: October 25, 2025

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Philanthropist and Businessman Asaf Atasoy, published a message on the occasion of October 19th, Mukhtars’ Day.

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

Our muhtars, who hold an important place in our social life, who lead the way in ensuring that the needs and demands of our citizens are met by the relevant institutions, and who are the public officials closest to our people, are also indispensable and powerful representatives of our democracy.

Our muhtars, who closely monitor the on-site determination and resolution of all demands of our citizens, including their most basic needs, in the neighborhoods where they work, are fulfilling a duty that requires sacrifice and responsibility.

Our mukhtars, who constitute the most important link in the integration of the State and the Nation, who represent all institutions of our state in the neighborhoods where they work, who come to power through elections and form the basis of our democracy, are our valuable representatives who identify the demands, problems and expectations of our people on-site and take the necessary steps to find solutions.

With the approval of our President, the institution of muhtarship has become an important cornerstone of our democracy and the diligent work of our muhtars has been appreciated.

I congratulate all our muhtars, who work selflessly to deliver public services to our people in our province effectively and quickly, for their devoted work. I celebrate “October 19th Mukhtars’ Day” and offer my respect and love.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: October 16, 2025

Asfa Holding Chairman of the Board of Directors, Asaf Atasoy, included the following statements in his message;

The August 30 Victory is not only a significant military success achieved as a result of the great heroism and glorious struggle displayed by our army, whose heart is filled with patriotism and faith, united with its nation despite all the deprivations and impossibilities; it is also an unforgettable symbol of our nation’s superior will, love for our country and nation, unparalleled determination, strong unity and solidarity.

The power groups that are trying to weaken the Republic of Türkiye through coup attempts and terrorism will never achieve their goals and will certainly be defeated in the face of the unity of the Nation and State.

The high spirit and consciousness that lie at the foundation of our country and our state, the love of our homeland and our love of freedom that we possess as a nation, will always remain vibrant and continue to illuminate our path, regardless of the circumstances. Our goal is to further develop and strengthen our country with the awareness and diligence to be worthy of our martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood for our sacred homeland.

Our homeland, watered on all sides with the blood of martyrs, is a trust entrusted to us by our dear sons and veterans who have drunk the sherbet of martyrdom.

With these feelings and thoughts, I commemorate with gratitude all the heroes of our War of Independence who gifted us this victory, especially Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and I congratulate all our citizens on August 30 Victory Day with my most sincere feelings.

Abdullah Yiğit-Istanbul

Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Asfa Holding Board Chairman Asaf Atasoy included the following statements in his message;

As an indispensable element of family life, a father is an expression of self-sacrifice and unconditional love to provide all kinds of support that his wife and children need throughout life.

Our compassionate father, who holds our hands when we take our first steps in life and is there when we need help with his love and confidence, is our source of security with his presence.

Our fathers, whom we chose as playmates when we were children, who were our heroes, whose support we sought throughout our lives, and whose shadows we always felt over us, even though they were sometimes far away, are people who devoted their lives to their families in order to raise us.

Our fathers strive for the happiness, peace and prosperity of their families and aim to see that their efforts are not wasted by raising us as individuals who are devoted to their country, nation and spiritual values. Our greatest responsibility is to fulfill this wish of theirs and make them proud.

Always remembering that we will be able to better understand what our fathers have done and thought for us when we reach old age, the greatest gift we can give to our fathers is to visit them every day, not only on special days, and to please their hearts and make them happy, with the attention they expect from us.

I celebrate the “Father’s Day” of all fathers, especially the fathers of our dear martyrs and heroic veterans who gave us confidence at every moment of our lives and who gave their lives for the country, and I remember with mercy all the fathers who have passed away.

Abdullah Yigit-Istanbul

Last Updated: June 14, 2025

Asfa Holding Board Chairman, Philanthropist and Businessman Asaf Atasoy, published a congratulatory message on the 572nd anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul.

Asfa Holding Board Chairman Asaf Atasoy included the following statements in his message;

“We have reached the 572nd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, the city of history and culture that has served as the capital of three great empires throughout history, by Fatih Sultan Mehmed Khan on May 29, 1453.

This conquest, which was achieved with great faith and military genius at the end of centuries of struggle in order to be worthy of the praise of our Prophet, “Constantinople will be conquered one day. What a great soldier is the soldier who conquers it, what a great commander is the commander who conquers it.”, has gone down in history as a great victory that deeply affected world history, with our deep-rooted civilization closing an era and opening a new one, leaving its mark on human history. This ancient city, where different cultures and religions lived together for centuries with the just, merciful and tolerant administration of our ancestors who conquered not only lands but also hearts, is a center of civilization that sets an example to the whole world with this feature, and is the capital of the world both geographically and commercially. With these features, the conquest and Istanbul will always be a source of pride and inspiration for our Glorious Nation, as it has been until today.

With the hope that the 572nd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul will bring goodness to our entire nation, I remember with mercy and gratitude all our martyrs who willingly sacrificed their lives for this heavenly homeland, especially the architect of the conquest, His Excellency Fatih Sultan Mehmed Khan.”

Abdullah Yigit-Istanbul

Last Updated: May 28, 2025

Asfa Holding Board Chairman Asaf Atasoy included the following statements in his message;

“May 19, 1919 is the first step in the struggle for existence and non-existence of our beloved nation, which does not accept captivity, does not give up its freedom, and never bows down to tyranny and oppression.

It is the day when the torch lit by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Samsun with the motto of “Either Independence or Death” was passed from hand to hand, from mouth to mouth, throughout the entire homeland, and the decision to establish a fully independent state based on national sovereignty was put into practice.

Celebrating May 19, one of the important turning points in our history, as Youth and Sports Day is of great importance for our youth, the assurance of our future, to understand, internalize and embrace the spirit of May 19.

Atatürk, who believed that the development and rise of the Republic of Turkey could only be achieved with the faith, diligence and determination of the Turkish youth by protecting national and spiritual values, clearly demonstrated this trust with the words; “Young people! With the education and knowledge you are receiving, you will be the most valuable symbol of human virtue, love of the homeland and freedom of thought. All the hope and future of the homeland depends on you, the understanding and energy of the young generations. Those who set out on the road without resting never ever get tired.”

The Republic of Turkey, which was established as a modern, democratic, secular state governed by the rule of law in the light of the War of Independence that began on May 19, 1919, will achieve its 2053 and 2071 goals and will have a say in the world as a strong country and will exist forever, thanks to the superior efforts and works of our nation and the Turkish youth.

With these feelings and thoughts, I remember with mercy, gratitude and respect all the heroes of the War of Independence, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, our martyrs and veterans; I congratulate our youth, who are the guarantee of our future, and you, our valuable fellow citizens of Erzurum and Istanbul, on the 19th of May, Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, and present them with my greetings and respects.

Abdullah Yigit-Istanbul

Last Updated: May 17, 2025

Asfa Holding Board Chairman, Philanthropist and Businessman Asaf Atasoy, published a Celebration message on the occasion of Hıdırellez Holiday.

Asfa Holding Board Chairman Asaf Atasoy included the following statements in his message;

Hıdırellez Festival is one of our most beautiful and meaningful traditions, celebrated with joy and enthusiasm in our country as well as in the Turkish World, due to the arrival of spring and the revival of nature after the cold winter days.

Hıdırellez, which our beloved nation living in harmony with nature has been celebrating for centuries in order to strengthen friendship and brotherhood, is a means for our citizens to come together and increase our social peace.

Just like Nevruz, Hıdırellez, which is celebrated by different cultures regardless of language, religion and race, and is based on the understanding of tolerance and cooperation, is among our traditions that can contribute to world peace.

This deep-rooted tradition, which dates back to Mesopotamia and Central Asia, is one of our most important cultural heritages that must be preserved and passed on to future generations without losing its essence.

I think that peace and tranquility in the world will be much better as long as there is tolerance between civilizations and cultures. I wish that the Hıdırellez Festival, which strengthens friendship and brotherhood and reminds us of the love of nature, will bring health, happiness, peace, profit and luck to all my fellow citizens. I offer my love and respect.

Abdullah Yigit-Istanbul

Last Update: 04 May 2025