Şehrazat Kemali Söylemezoğlu (born 3 September 1952), known by her stage name Şehrazat or Şehro, is a Turkish television personality, businesswoman, philanthropist, composer, songwriter, record producer, occasional jazz, and pop music singer.

Şehrazat
Birth nameŞehrazat Kemali Söylemezoğlu
Also known asŞehro, Scheherazade, Şehrazad
Born (1952-09-03) 3 September 1952 (age 72)
Ankara, Turkey
OriginIstanbul, Ankara
GenresVocal jazz, Turkish music, traditional pop, third stream, synthpop, swing revival, soft rock, schlager, rhythm and blues, ragtime, psychedelic music, power pop, pop rock, jump blues, Italo disco, indie pop, glam rock, Europop, Euro disco, easy listening, disco house, deep house, dance-pop, cool jazz, chanson, Britpop, bebop, avant-garde jazz, Arabesque, Americana, a cappella
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, celebutante, composer, lyricist, performance artist, record producer, singer-songwriter, soloist, television personality, vocalist
InstrumentVocals
Years active1967–present
LabelsOdeon Records, EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Şehrazat Music, Disco Plak by Selahattin Beyazıt and Antuan Şoriz, İstanbul Gelişim Orchestra, Süheyl Denizci Orchestra, ...

Life and career

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Early life and family

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Her father S. Siham Kemali Söylemezoğlu (d. 13 April 1981; Vienna) was a notable businessman and was considered to be the first mining magnate of Turkey. Her grandfather is Süleyman Şefik Pasha, the son of the Beylerbey of Rumelia Ali Kemali Pasha who is the only brother of Edhem Pertev Pasha and one of the former governors of Konya. Her mother Sevinç Tevs was the sister of artist Sevim Tevs and the daughter of the Turkish ambassador to the Republic of Albania. She was the first internationally known jazz singer of Turkey and described by the authorities as having one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century.[8][9] She was regarded as a diva since she surpassed Sarah Vaughan and won the 1948 Miami Jazz Festival, with the song "For You" that was composed by their family friend Arif Mardin, the 12-time Grammy Award winning Turkish-American music producer. She graduated from the International School of Choueifat, in Beirut, Lebanon in 1970. It was her parents' wish that she attend it for the sake of a better education.[10] Prior to this, she spent the vast majority of her childhood in Turkey.[11] Şehrazat is exceedingly fluent in Turkish, Arabic, French, and English.

As an only child from an affluent family, Şehrazat has received a large amount of mass media's attention due to her wealth and lifestyle. However, she has a half-brother Süleyman Şefik Söylemezoğlu named after their paternal grandfather, who is the son of Aynur Bıyıktay-Söylemezoğlu (the daughter of Ömer Halis Bıyıktay and the niece of Kâzım Karabekir, from her mother's side). Şehrazat's maternal great-grandfather is the most widely recognized composer of Turkish Classical Music, Hammamizade İsmail Dede Efendi. Having been married to the daughter of diplomat and author Galip Kemali Söylemezoğlu, the great uncle of Şehrazat, Hüsrev Gerede is her uncle by marriage. In addition to this, among her uncles are Cevdet Çağla, a famous composer of Turkish music and Prof. Dr. Hamit Kemali Söylemezoğlu,[12] the architect of Anıtkabir and Taşkışla. Besides, journalist Mithat Perin (preceptor of Abdi İpekçi), diplomat Özer F. Tevs, politician Selim Sarper, and diplomat Yüksel Söylemez are also her close relatives.[13] Some of the grandsons and granddaughters of His Imperial Majesty Mehmet V Reshad, the Emperor of the Ottomans and the Caliph of the Faithful such as HH Prince Cengiz Osmanoğlu, HH Prince Ömer Fevzi Osmanoğlu, HH Mihrimah Sultana are Şehrazat's cousins. Thus, Şehrazat's aunt Perizat Söylemezoğlu-Perin, formerly HH Princess Perizat Söylemezoğlu-Osmanoğlu, was the spouse of HH Prince Mehmet Nazım Osmanoğlu—the eldest son of HIH Prince Mehmed Ziyaeddin Efendi—and is the mother of HH Prince Cengiz Osmanoğlu. Another aunt of Şehrazat is Belkız Rufa Kemali Söylemezoğlu, the socialite. Moreover, Şehrazat's nephew is the former goalkeeper of Galatasaray football club Turgay Şeren and her niece is Hülya Koçyiğit who is a Turkish actress and is considered to be one of Turkish cinema's most famous female leads. Almost everybody in her family has graduated from Galatasaray High School, the most influential school in Turkey.[14]

Music career

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The owner of thousands of Turkish hit works, Şehrazat's first hit song is "Yaz Yaz Yaz" that was sung by Turkish superstar Ajda Pekkan. This song was a reform in Turkish pop music. More recently, Bengü's "Kocaman Öpüyorum" and "Sırada Sen Varsın" are also hits written by Şehrazat. Demet Sağıroğlu's debut "Kınalı Bebek" in 1994, was another very popular song by Şehrazat. Additionally, even though she has a very rare and wondrous voice like her mother does, she is commonly known for her music productions and compositions rather than active performances. Hence, in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, she was known for singing arrangements, most notably, "Aşk Bir Kumarsa" (ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" cover), "İki Gölge" (Sandy Posey's "All Hung up in Your Green Eyes" cover), "İmkânsız Aşk" (Dusty Springfield's "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" cover), and Kelebek (Engelbert Humperdinck's "Free as the Wind (Theme from Papillon)" cover).[15] During the period 1975–87, due to her polyglotism and eclectic, wide-ranging repertoire of contemporary and narrative songs in English, Şehrazat, as a soloist, managed to perform periodically in Playboy and Gala, which were VIP locations featuring Turkey's leading performance artists. With a wealth of great songs and stage presence, her intense show was really appreciated by the audience and the media, however, she decided to quit performing but to keep on songwriting. Her voice is likely to be classified as contralto with a strong lower register since she possesses a significant vocal agility and endurance. That is why Şehrazat is able to sing the high soprano notes and the low baritone notes as well.

Şehrazat was also the producer of superstar Ajda Pekkan, Sibel Tüzün, the former Eurovision Song Contest participant, Yıldız Kaplan, Reyhan Karaca, Zeliha Sunal, and Band AF.[16][17][18][19] Sezen Aksu, another Turkish pop music singer, songwriter and producer who sold over 40 million albums worldwide, is the closest colleague of Şehrazat.

On 2 February 1985, Şehrazat as a special guest star performed in the music feast of a monthly TV-show "Do-Re-Mi", called "Jazz and Dance Night", with the song "Break Me". At the night, there was also a Coşkun Demir-Şehrazat duet "Baby Come to Me". She concurrently appeared in Cem Özer's Star TV show "Laf Lafı Açıyor" on 19 June 1992 and on 3 May 1996 when the show transferred to Kanal D.

30th anniversary tribute

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On 24 January 2004, Şehrazat celebrated her 30-year anniversary as a lyricist and composer, which took place in the form of a huge concert named "Şehrazat Şarkıları" and given in Istanbul at the Levent İş Sanat Cultural Center in association with Türkiye İş Bankası. She sang some of her greatest hits and had guests such as Sezen Aksu, Nilüfer, Ajda Pekkan, Aşkın Nur Yengi, Emel Müftüoğlu, and Muazzez Abacı join her on stage.[20][21] At the instance of Şehrazat, all proceeds from this concert as well as profits from the sales of each ticket sold for the event was donated to the TSK Elele Foundation of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey.[22] Apart from this, "Şehrazat Şarkıları" was also aired by the ATV Television Network in 2005.[23][24]

Discography

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Extended Play: 1968

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  • İki Gölge (A-side)
  • Dün Gece (B-side)

Arrangements: 1969

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  • Beni Unutma
  • İmkânsız Aşk

45 rpm records: 1970s

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  • Kelebek (2:58)
  • Dili Dost, Kalbi Düşman (1974)
  • Söz Sevgilim, Söz (04:06; A 1974 45rpm in collaboration with Cömert Baykent)
  • Kolkola (Dalida cover; Turkish lyrics by Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan)
  • Ne Kapımı Çalan Var
  • Nerede olsan

Maxi single: 1980

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  • Sevemedim Karagözlüm (considered the first maxi-single (MCD) of Turkey)

Extended Play: 1980[25]

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  • Sevemedim Karagözlüm (A-side 4:49)
  • Hürüm Artık (A-side 3:52)
  • Bahşiş (B-side 3:26)
  • Seni Sevmişim (B-side 3:22)

Long Play: 1981[26]

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  • Sevdim Genç Bir Adamı
  • Kendim Ettim, Kendim Buldum (Eyvah)
  • Yanında
  • Aşk Bir Kumarsa
  • Kulakların Çınlasın
  • Lay la, Lay la (Yaşamaya Bak Sen)

Compilation album: 2002

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  • Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş: 60'lı ve 70'li Yılların Orijinal Kayıtları

Compilation album: 2007

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  • Our Golden Songs

Compilation album: 2008

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Songwriting credits

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List of Şehrazat's most-widely known songwriting credits[27]
Year Artist Album Song Co-written with
1989 Ajda Pekkan Ajda 90 "Yaz Yaz Yaz"
"Yazık Olur"
Aşkın Nur Yengi Sevgiliye... "Sevgiliye"
1990 Zerrin Özer İşte Ben "Yalan Olur"
"Var mı Sende O Yürek?"
1991 Ajda Pekkan Seni Seçtim "Sevgide Seni Seçtim"
"Yalnızlığa Hüküm Giydim"
"Ölüm Yok Ya Sonunda"
"Oyun Etti Gözlerim" Garo Mafyan (composer)
"İnanılır Gibi Değil" Garo Mafyan (composer)
"Eline Gözüne Dizine Dursun" Garo Mafyan (composer)
"Dönüyorum" Garo Mafyan (composer)
"Kabus Gibi Gelme Üstüme"
"Haydi Durma"
"Bu Bahar" Garo Mafyan (composer)
"Yalancı Dünya" Anuş Bakış (lyricist along with Şehrazat)
Aşkın Nur Yengi Hesap Ver "Hesap Ver"
Ayşegül Aldinç Sorma – Benden Söylemesi "Delip de Geçer"
Zerrin Özer Sevildiğini Bil "Geri Almaya Geldim" 4:25 Seda Akay (lyricist)
"Yok Deme" 5:06
1992 Nil Burak İşte Banko "İşte Banko" Uğur Dikmen (composer)
"Yiğidim" Uğur Dikmen (composer)
"İlle de Yâr"
"Duman Oldum" Nil Burak (composer)
Nilüfer Yine Yeni Yeniden "Çarem Benim"
Emel Müftüoğlu Faka Bastın "Faka Bastın"
"İşine Gelirse" Greg (composer)
"Sev de Nasıl Seversen Sev"
"Yerin Dolmuyor" Mustafa Sandal (composer)
Gökben Aşka Çeyrek Var "Aşka Çeyrek Var"
Ferdi Özbeğen Davacı Değilim "Eline, Gözüne, Dizine Dursun" Garo Mafyan (composer)
1993 Sezen Aksu Deli Kızın Türküsü "Kalbim Ege'de Kaldı" Sezen Aksu and Yelda Karataş (lyricists along with Şehrazat),
Atilla Özdemiroğlu (composer)
"Dert Faslı" Sezen Aksu and Yelda Karataş (lyricists along with Şehrazat),
Sezen Aksu (composer), Özkan Uğur (composer)
Aşkın Nur Yengi Sıramı Bekliyorum "Pembe dizi" Nikos Antipas (composer)
"Yüreğim ağlıyor"
1994 Demet Sağıroğlu Kınalı Bebek "Kınalı bebek" 4:06 Rony Uzay Heparı (composer)
"Yağızım" 3:00 Sezen Aksu (lyricist)
"Biçare" 3:20 Rony Uzay Heparı (composer)
"Bu Saatten Sonra" 5:05
"Oyunbozan" 4:22
"Yadigâr" 5:30 Demet Sağıroğlu (composer)
"Benden vazgeçme" 2:42
"Kınalı bebek (Pop mix)" 4:14 Ozan Doğulu (remixer)
"Kınalı bebek (Undertech mix)" 4:42 Sarp Özdemiroğlu (remixer)
"Kınalı bebek (Club mix)" 5:48 Tansel Doğanay (remixer)
Ayşegül Aldinç Alev Alev "Aşk Denen İllet" Mustafa Sandal (composer), Sarp Özdemiroğlu (composer)
Emel Müftüoğlu Emelce "Gözümün Feri" Murat Yeter (composer), Bülent Sert (composer)
"Sevmek En Büyük Devlet"
"Ah Bu Sevda" Bülent Sert (composer)
1995 Nil Burak Nil Burak'95: Akdeniz Rüzgârı "E, Neyse Ne" Anonymous (composer)
Nâlân Cansuyum "Cansuyum"
1996 Ayşegül Aldinç Söze Ne Hacet "Alimallah" Aykut Gürel (composer)
"Bekletme" Aykut Gürel (composer)
1997 Aşkın Nur Yengi Haberci "Yabani" Adil Omar (composer), Amr Tantawy (composer)
"Haberci"
"Kanım Akmaz" Manos Loïzos (composer)
Nilüfer Nilüfer'le "Bırak Beni"
"Namussuz Akşamlar"
"Hasret Çığlıkları"
Kerim Tekin Haykırsam Dünyaya "Motor" Fedon (lyricist along with Şehrazat), Hakan Demir (composer)
"Vay O Zaman" Ozan Doğulu (composer)
"Dilber" Kerim Tekin (composer along with Şehrazat)
1998 Demet Sağıroğlu Sımsıcak "Yarın olmaz" 4:58 Emre Irmak (composer along with Şehrazat)
"Ukte" 4:13 Emre Irmak (composer along with Şehrazat)
1999 Gülben Ergen Kör Aşık "Gümbür Gümbür"
"Kim Ne Derse Desin"
"Kurşuni" Ercan Saatchi (composer)
Sibel Turnagöl Can Bu Elli Yıllık Aşk Bülent Yetiş
2000 Ajda Pekkan Diva "Mutlu Bütün Şarkılar (Quand s'arrêtent les violons)" J.D. Bonny (composer), Roger Candiotti (composer)
"Aşka İnanma (Dov'è l'amore)" Paul Michael Barry (composer), Mark Taylor (composer)
Bengü Hoş Geldin "Hoş Geldin"
"Akşama Görüşürüz" Emre Irmak (composer)
2001 Bengü Sen Bir Çiçeksin Özel... "Hoş Geldin (remix)"
Sertab Erener Turuncu "Bahçede" 5:00
"Yağmurdan Sonra Gelen Toprağın Kokusu" 4:45
Kenan Doğulu Ex Aşkım "Kime Ne"
Nilüfer Büyük Aşkım "Beni mi Buldun?"
"Çok Büyüksün"
"Her şey Bir An"
2002 Gülben Ergen Sade ve Sadece "Sade ve Sadece (Elveda)" 4:15 Emre Irmak (composer along with Şehrazat)
"Teşekkür Ederim" 3:31 Bülent Yetiş (composer)
"Abayı Yaktım" 4:39
"Ne Zaman" 4:10 Taşkın Sabah (composer)
2003 Ajda Pekkan Sen İste (single) "Sen İste"
"Sen İste (remix)"
"Sen İste (ballad)"
2004 Gülben Ergen Uçacaksın "Uçacaksın" 3:24
"Ayrılmam" 4:40
"Git" 3:20
Aşkın Nur Yengi Yasemin Yağmurları "Kardelen" Oğuz Gökoğlu (lyricist and composer along with Şehrazat)
2005 Gülben Ergen Fıkır Fıkır 9+1 "Fıkır Fıkır"
"Uçacaksın No. 2"
"Ayrılmam No. 2"
"Git No. 2"
Yıldız Kaplan Işıl Işıl "Sayende" Anna Vissi (composer)
2006 Gülben Ergen Gülben Ergen "Amor"
"Belki"
2007 Aşkın Nur Yengi Aşk'ın Şarkıları "Hesap Ver"
Tuğba Özerk Yıkıldı Duvarlarım "Yastık" 4:41
Zerrin Özer Ömür Geçiyor "Katmer Katmer" 5:00
2008 Ajda Pekkan Aynen Öyle "Aynen Öyle"
"Flu Gibi"
"Gerisi Hikâye"
"Hiçbir Şey Eskisi Gibi Olamaz"
"Flu Gibi (remix)"
Ayşe Özyılmazel Uzay Heparı – Sonsuza "Biçare" Rony Uzay Heparı (composer)
Yıldız Kaplan Motive "Motive" and "Motive (remix)" Bülent Yetiş (lyricist along with Şehrazat), Bülent Yetiş (composer)
2009 Bengü İki Melek "Kocaman Öpüyorum"
Sibel Can Benim Adım Aşk "Kalbimin Kıyıları"
2010 Bengü Sırada Sen Varsın (maxi single) "Sırada Sen Varsın" 3:51
"Sırada Sen Varsın (club mix)" 5:13
"Sırada Sen Varsın (Volga Tamöz version)" 4:18 Volga Tamöz (remixer)
"Yalansın" 4:16
"Yalansın (piano version)" 4:46
Gökhan Özen Başka "Teslim Al" 4:07 Bülent Yetiş (composer along with Şehrazat)
"Ezdirmem" 4:33
Reyhan Karaca Yeniden "Yeniden"[28] 3:36
2011 Bengü Dört Dörtlük "Kadar (pop version by Volga Tamöz)" 05:13 Volga Tamöz (remixer)
"Dört Dörtlük" 05:05
"Kadar (slow version by Volga Tamöz)" 03:56 Volga Tamöz (remixer)
2012 Mustafa Ceceli Es "Aşk Döşeği" 4:39
Reyhan Karaca Yaz (maxi single) "Sevmek En Büyük Devlet"

Awards

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  • Runner-up in Hey Magazine's List of Bests and Most Promising Female Singers in 1970 (969 votes)
  • Yekta Okur Honorary Award of the 4th Kral TV Video and Music Awards (23 February 1998)
  • Song of the Year Award of the 9th Kral TV Video and Music Awards, with the song "Abayı Yaktım" written and composed by Şehrazat (24 March 2003)

Ancestors

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References

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  1. ^ "Hakan Tok's retrospective article on the prominent role of Şehrazat in Zerrin Özer's success in the entertainment world". Birzamanlar.net. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Şehrazat and Gülben Ergen". E-sosyete.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Gülben Ergen and Yıldız Kaplan's Addiction to Şehrazat. Star TV (Turkey)". Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Şehrazat and Anna Vissi song in Yıldız Kaplan's album". Magazinci.com. 6 January 1990. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  5. ^ Şehrazat and Yeşim Salkım Interview. Hürriyet
  6. ^ MAD Medya, info(a)madmedya.com. "Şehrazat, Meyra, and Burak Kut in Nilgün Çolak's article at". Medyafaresi.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Şehrazat's page in Muzikotek.com". Muzikotek.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  8. ^ "An article by Ayten Alpman". Birzamanlar.net. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  9. ^ "E-book entitled "Cazname I: Bizim İnsanlarımız" by Tunçel Gülsoy on". 6 January 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013 – via Scribd.
  10. ^ "Şenay Düdek's Interview with Şehrazat in Milliyet, a Turkish media conglomerate". Milliyet.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Turkpopmuzik.net – Sanatçı – Şehrazat (Kemali Söylemezoğlu)".
  12. ^ "H. Kemali Söylemezoğlu. Arkiv.com". Arkiv.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  13. ^ Author by webofisi.com Copyright (c)2000. (11 June 1931). "On the Söylemezoğlu Family". Biyografi.net. Retrieved 18 October 2013. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Şehrazat K. Söylemezoğlu in a 2004 interview conducted jointly with Yener Süsoy and Hürriyet, the high-circulation Turkish newspaper". Hürriyet. 13 January 2004. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  15. ^ Dilmener, Naim. Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş. Page 205. İletişim Publishing. 2003. Print.
  16. ^ Biographies of celebrities. 2009.
  17. ^ "On Şehrazat's accomplishment as a producer". Ucankus.com. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  18. ^ "Şehrazat and Kaplan in the news, Sabah News". Arsiv.sabah.com.tr. 28 June 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Interview with Şehrazat, Yeni Aktüel Magazine". Yeniaktuel.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Şehrazat's 30th year anniversary–İş Sanat Event List". Issanat.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Event Şehrazat Şarkıları. Ekolay.net". Sehir.ekolay.net. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  22. ^ "Şehrazat in Ayşe Özgün's article entitled Müziğin Efendisi, Sultanı Şehrazat (tr. Şehrazat as the Master and the Sultan of Music) in the daily newspaper Vatan". Haber.gazetevatan.com. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  23. ^ "The entertainment television show "Şehrazat Şarkıları" in Savaş Ay's column, Sabah News". Sabah.com.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  24. ^ "Şehrazat's 30th year anniversary on ATV (Turkey) in 2005". Arsiv.sabah.com.tr. 3 November 2005. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  25. ^ "The Official Website for the İstanbul Gelişim Orkestrası. Click 'Diskografi', then '1980–1985' (Page No. 8)". Istanbulgelisim.net. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  26. ^ "The Official Website for the İstanbul Gelişim Orkestrası. Click 'Diskografi', then '1980–1985' (Page No. 5).". Istanbulgelisim.net. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Şehrazat's Discography and Songwriting Credits". discogs. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  28. ^ "A Şehrazat song in Reyhan Karaca's 2010 album called "Yeniden" which was also produced by Şehrazat". discogs. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  29. ^ "Ancestry of Süleyman Şefik Söylemezoğlu Pasha, the owner of Marco Pasha Mansion, in the official website of the Üsküdar Municipality". Uskudar.bel.tr. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
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