Sabancı Holding Chairperson Güler Sabancı made a statement on the demise of veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand. Ms. Sabancı said:
“Turkey lost a truly unbiased thinker, and Turkish media lost a doyen journalist who had created an ecole by himself. I felt so sad when I heard the sudden death of Mehmet Ali Birand, who was a dear friend of mine. God rest his soul. May God give his family and friends patience.