Sevgül Uludağ (October 15, 1958 – June 28, 2026) was a Turkish Cypriot journalist, author, and pro-peace activist. She was best known for her investigative reporting on the fate of missing persons and mass graves in Cyprus, a legacy of the intercommunal conflict on the island.
Life and Career
Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, on October 15, 1958, Uludağ initially worked in a bank and later as a proofreader before becoming a journalist in 1980. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she wrote for both Turkish-language and Greek-language newspapers in Cyprus. As an investigative reporter, she played a key role in uncovering information on thousands of missing Cypriots and locating mass graves, contributing to the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus.
Activism and Civil Society Work
Uludağ co-founded two non-governmental organizations: Hands Across the Divide (Sınırı Aşan Eller), established in 2001 with women from both sides of the island to promote peace and reconciliation, and the Women's Research Centre in Nicosia. She also provided training on peace, reconciliation, and gender issues to various women's groups.
Awards and Recognition
- 2008 Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF), becoming the first Cypriot recipient of this award.
- 2014 European Citizen's Prize (European Parliament).
- 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee for her work on missing persons and refugees in Cyprus.
Selected Works
- Oysters with the Missing Pearls (2005) – a collection of stories about missing persons and mass graves from both communities in Cyprus, published in Turkish, Greek, and English.
- Orphans of Nationalism (2008) – documenting stories of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots killed by members of their own communities.
Death
Sevgül Uludağ died on June 28, 2026, at Nicosia General Hospital after a short battle with cancer, at the age of 67. Her death was met with tributes from across the political spectrum in Cyprus, including from Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
