Avrupa Newspaper, one of the UK's established Turkish-language publications, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special event at the House of Lords on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
Hosted by Lord Hussain Qurban, the celebration brought together distinguished guests from politics, diplomacy, journalism, academia, business and civil society.
The event, supported by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), featured a Turkish Media Workshop, a historical exhibition, documentary presentations and an awards ceremony recognising contributions to journalism, cultural exchange and community development.
Among the prominent attendees were former UK Trade Minister Afzal Khan, Labour MP Nesil Çalışkan, Foreign Press Association President Deborah Bonetti and representatives of Turkish diplomatic and cultural institutions.
A Quarter-Century of Journalism
Vatan Öz, founder of Avrupa Newspaper and Chairman of Avrupa Media Group, reflected on the publication's journey from its beginnings in East London in 2002 to its development into an international media organisation.
He emphasised the newspaper's role in connecting Turkish and British communities, preserving collective memory and strengthening cultural understanding.
Celebrating Turkish-British Relations
A historical exhibition explored the longstanding diplomatic, cultural and journalistic connections between Türkiye and Britain. The exhibition featured archival documents, historic newspaper coverage and materials illustrating the development of bilateral relations.
A media workshop also brought together journalists and broadcasters from several European countries to discuss digital transformation, cooperation and the future of Turkish-language journalism.
Honouring Outstanding Contributions
Six awards were presented during the ceremony, recognising achievements in journalism, television, health tourism, community success, friendship and diaspora engagement.
Recipients included MP Nesil Çalışkan, Dr Burak Tuncer, journalist Arda Sayıner, broadcaster Adil Elmas, M. Melek of Doctors4U and Kanal Avrupa founder Alipaşa Akbaş.
Culture, Heritage and Community
The programme also highlighted traditional Anatolian craftsmanship, including the historic dastar fabric of Fethiye, and featured three documentaries examining the experiences and challenges of Turkish Cypriots.
Representatives of Turkish, Tatar, Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Turkmen and Kazakh communities attended in traditional dress, celebrating their shared cultural heritage.
The anniversary concluded with a group photograph at Westminster, marking a significant milestone for Avrupa Newspaper and its continuing commitment to strengthening ties between communities.
25 Years of Journalism — Building Bridges Between Communities.
