History of Sırrı Süreyya Önder in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 3, 2025

Sırrı Süreyya Önder is a Turkish figure known for his diverse roles as a film director, actor, screenwriter, columnist, and politician. He entered parliament in 2011, supported by the BDP, later joining the party. Notably, he ran for Istanbul mayor in 2014 with the HDP, securing a significant portion of the vote. In 2015, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Ankara Province. He is considered an activist and is politically aligned with Kurdish interests even though he is not of Kurdish descent himself.

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Full Timeline

July 1962: Sırrı Süreyya Önder's Birth

In July 1962, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was born.

July 1962: Sırrı Süreyya Önder's Birth in Adıyaman

On 7 July 1962, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was born into a Turkoman family in Adıyaman.

September 1980: Arrest and Imprisonment

In September 1980, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was arrested and sentenced to twelve years in prison for protesting the military junta, facing incarceration in various prisons.

2006: Release of 'The International'

In 2006, Sırrı Süreyya Önder's film, "The International", was released.

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2007: Award for 'The International'

In 2007, "The International" was awarded Best Picture Prize at the International Adana Golden Boll Film Festival and was entered into the 29th Moscow International Film Festival.

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2010: Columnist Career at BirGün

In 2010, Sırrı Süreyya Önder started his columnist career at the newspaper BirGün.

2011: Election as Deputy for Istanbul

In 2011, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was elected as a deputy for Istanbul, backed by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

2011: Election to Parliament

In 2011, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was elected to parliament as an independent, backed by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).

2013: Taksim Gezi Park Protests Involvement

In 2013, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was involved in the Taksim Gezi Park protests and was reportedly hospitalized after being hit by a tear gas cartridge.

2014: Istanbul Mayoral Candidacy

In 2014, Sırrı Süreyya Önder competed in the municipal elections as the Istanbul mayoral candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), receiving 412,875 votes (4.83%).

February 2015: Dolmabahce Consensus

On 28 February 2015, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was part of a delegation that facilitated a dialogue between Öcalan and the Turkish Government, leading to the Dolmabahce Consensus.

June 2015: Election as MP for Ankara Province

In June 2015, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was elected as a Member of Parliament for the 1st electoral district of Ankara Province.

December 2018: Sentenced to Prison

On 3 December 2018, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was sentenced to 43 months in prison for a speech he held during the Newroz festivities in 2013 and on 6 December 2018, he went to prison in Kocaeli.

October 2019: Release from Prison

On 4 October 2019, Sırrı Süreyya Önder was released from prison after the Constitutional Court ruled his freedom of expression had been violated a day earlier.

March 2021: Lawsuit Filed for Political Ban

On 17 March 2021, the State Prosecutor to the Court of Cassation filed a lawsuit demanding a five-year ban from politics for Sırrı Süreyya Önder and 686 other HDP politicians.