Burhan Kuzu

Burhan Kuzu was a Turkish academic, constitutional law expert and politician. He was a founding member of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and served as a member of parliament for Istanbul for four terms. He was also the chairman of the Constitutional Commission in the parliament for two terms. He played an important role in the transition from the parliamentary system to the presidential system in Turkey. He was born on January 1, 1955 in Develi, Kayseri. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law and completed his master's and doctoral studies there. He became a professor of constitutional law in 1998. He worked as a lecturer and researcher at various universities in Turkey and abroad. He wrote articles and books on law and politics. He was involved in various civil society organizations. He was married to Zahide Kuzu and had two sons, Mehmet and Mustafa. He died on November 1, 2020 in Istanbul due to COVID-19. He was buried in Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery. He was known for his outspoken and controversial statements on various issues. He was accused of being involved in some corruption and bribery cases, such as the Zindaşti case. He was also criticized for his views on the Kurdish issue, the Armenian genocide, the Gezi protests, the Gülen movement, and the Syrian refugees. He was a loyal supporter of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and defended his policies and actions. He was regarded as one of the architects of the new constitution and the presidential system in Turkey.