Galatasaray's German football player of Turkish origin, İlkay Gündoğan, was awarded the 2025 Mevlüde Youth Medal.
The experienced football player of the yellow-red team, İlkay Gündoğan, was deemed worthy of the medal, which is given by the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to individuals or groups who meet certain social criteria in order to keep alive the exemplary, dignified and unifying stance shown against the pain of activist and peace ambassador Mevlüde Genç, who lost her two daughters, two grandchildren and a nephew as a result of the arson attack of her house by Neo-Nazis in Solingen, Germany, on 29 May 1993.
The 2025 Mevlüde Young Medal was presented to İlkay for setting an example for young people with his stance against racism, hatred and exclusion.
"A SPECIAL AWARD"
In addition to İlkay, NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, Ambassador Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Istanbul Consul General Regine Grienberger, Galatasaray Club Board Member and Sportif AŞ Deputy Chairman Abdullah Kavukcu, coach Okan Buruk, yellow-red football players Leroy Sane, Kaan Ayhan, Eyüp Aydın and Can attended the award ceremony held at the historical summer residence of the German Embassy in Tarabya. Armando Güner, Mevlüde Genç's family and guests attended.
Making a statement to the press after the ceremony, İlkay said, "It is a special award. I thank them for deeming me worthy of this award. After all, we are football players, but we are in front of everyone's eyes. This brings a great responsibility. It is a great honor that they deem me worthy of this award. I want to continue as I am, with my personality. I know my responsibility. I want to introduce myself to my young friends, our fans and people outside in a much better way, and continue as I have done so far with my character and stance." spoke.
Stating that he wanted to set an example with his character as well as his football career, İlkay said, "I did not see myself as just a football player. After all, we are all human beings. We need to get along with each other. We need to take care of each other. Unfortunately, the world sometimes goes in the opposite direction, but we all need to look in the mirror when we go home. We need to know the responsibility we have. Receiving an award is, of course, nice, but it does not end there. You need to experience this responsibility every day when you leave your home. I have three little children. If I leave this world one day, it will be better and better for my children." "I want to leave room. I live my life accordingly, I know this responsibility. It is a never-ending responsibility. I hope we will know this responsibility together and live accordingly."
İlkay Gündoğan, about coach Okan Buruk and his teammates not leaving him alone, said, "I thank all of them. Thank you. They did not leave me alone today. Most of my friends could not come because they were in the national teams. Those who are here, the friends I trained with, came. I am very happy. Of course, it is a very nice gesture. I want to thank them for that, too."
PRIME MINISTER WÜST: "MEVLÜDE YOUNG IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US"
Speaking at the ceremony, NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst said that Mevlüde Genç, who experienced one of the greatest pains a person can experience in the Solingen disaster, is a great role model for the whole world.
Stating that Mevlüde Genç's legacy should be kept alive, Wüst said, "The Solingen disaster was an attack born of hatred, against people who were 'strangers' in the eyes of the perpetrators. Mevlüde Genç and her husband Durmuş lost the five people they loved most in that terrible attack on May 29, 1993. Many other members of the family were seriously injured. The Genç family experienced the heaviest pain you can imagine, especially if you have a child. Despite this, Mevlüde Genç stood up against hatred and misanthropy." He put something incredibly powerful: Human love. During the trial of the perpetrators, Mevlüde Genç said, "Even though I lost my five children and my home, I still instill love. We are all brothers. This cannot be prevented by burning and destroying." he said. He called for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence even in the midst of the greatest pain. This great message of Mevlüde Genç is as important today, 30 years later, as it was then. Mevlüde Genç passed away in 2022. "He is a great role model for all of us and his legacy lives on."
Wüst touched on the importance of İlkay being the captain of the Germany National Football Team and said:
"İlkay Gündoğan's career shows that talent, determination and success can lead to the top. However, this is only half the truth. Because there is racism and discrimination in our football stadiums as well. Especially when a match is lost, players with a migration background are repeatedly targeted and insulted. Great talents such as İlkay Gündoğan have also been the target of this. İlkay Gündoğan did not let this deter him. He continued on his path with determination and thus became a great role model for many people, especially children and young people. Dear İlkay, you resisted harassment and discrimination and protected others from it. For this, we have great respect. İlkay Gündoğan did not just quietly enjoy the fruits of his love in Germany and Türkiye. On the contrary, he repeatedly took responsibility and used this popularity to stand against exclusion, hatred and racism, to call for respect, tolerance and good unity. İlkay knows how to use the unifying power of football to bring people together with a sense of responsibility. The State of North Rhine-Westphalia created the Mevlüde Genç Medal. This medal aims to contribute to keeping the memory of the person whose name it is named after. First of all, this award aims to honor what Mevlüde Genç set as an example in a way that no one else could. Dear İlkay Gündoğan, thank you very much for your efforts for respect, tolerance and peaceful unity.
