31.08.2026 18:00
Oral Celik, who was mentioned in the investigation into the assassination of journalist Abdi Ipekci and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, has died at the age of 67. After falling ill at his home in Ankara, Celik was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and admitted to the Neurology Intensive Care Unit at Hacettepe University Hospital. Despite all interventions, Celik could not be saved, and his funeral was held at Malatya City Cemetery.
Oral Çelik passed away in the hospital where he was taken after falling ill at his home in Ankara. It was reported that the 67-year-old Çelik was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage.
FELL ILL AT HOME, WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Oral Çelik, who fell ill while resting at his home in Ankara, was taken to the hospital after the intervention of health teams. Tests revealed that Çelik had suffered a brain hemorrhage, and he was admitted to the Neurology Intensive Care Unit at Hacettepe University Hospital. Despite all the doctors' interventions, Çelik could not be saved and passed away at the age of 67.
HIS NAME APPEARED IN THE ABDİ İPEKÇİ ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION
Born in 1959 in the Girmana neighborhood of Hekimhan district in Malatya, Oral Çelik attended Turan Emeksiz High School. It was reported that Çelik formed a close friendship with Mehmet Ali Ağca there. Çelik's name was mentioned alongside Mehmet Ali Ağca in the investigation into the murder of journalist Abdi İpekçi in 1979. Çelik, whose name also came to the fore with some actions carried out in Malatya during the same period, later went abroad.
HIS NAME ALSO CAME TO THE AGENDA IN THE POPE JOHN PAUL II FILE
After the September 12 coup, it was reported that Çelik met with Mehmet Ali Ağca and Abdullah Çatlı in Bulgaria and Switzerland. Çelik's name later came to the fore in the process linked to the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II on March 30, 1981. Çelik, who was caught in Switzerland in 1985 along with Abdullah Çatlı, was later released. In 1996, Çelik was extradited from Italy to Turkey.
TRIED IN TURKEY
After his extradition to Turkey, cases were filed against Oral Çelik on charges of "being a member of an armed gang, carrying an unlicensed weapon, and abducting a person from prison." Çelik was acquitted because these cases were time-barred. After the legal processes, Çelik returned to Malatya and this time came to the fore with his activities in sports and politics.
SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF MALATYASPOR
Oral Çelik was elected as the President of Malatyaspor Club in 1998. In the early general elections held in 2002, he became an independent parliamentary candidate from Malatya. In the same year, he published his book titled "Sır'rın Sırrı" (The Secret of the Secret).
BURIED IN MALATYA
A funeral prayer was held for Oral Çelik, who passed away, at the Malatya City Cemetery after the afternoon prayer. Following the funeral ceremony, Çelik was laid to rest in the same cemetery with the participation of many people.