Prof. Dr. Sabri Orman, who made important contributions to the field of economics and Islamic economics in Turkey, was commemorated in the second year of his death with an event organized by Istanbul Ticaret University and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO).
President of YÖK (Council of Higher Education) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, ITO President Mr. Şekib Avdagiç, Istanbul Ticaret University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Öztürk Oran, Istanbul Ticaret University Rector Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu, Istanbul Galata University Rector Prof. Dr. Özgür Çengel, Sakarya University Rector Prof. Dr. Fatih Savaşan, Arel University Rector Prof. Dr. A. Ercan Gegez, Istanbul Ticaret University Vice-Rectors, deans, institute directors, academicians, Sabri Orman’s wife Mrs. Nurhan Orman and his son Mr. Sedat Orman attended the commemoration event.
The book entitled “Understanding Sabri Orman” was also introduced at the event held at the Sütlüce campus of Istanbul Ticaret University.
Istanbul Ticaret University Rector Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu made a speech at the event. He said: “It is really meaningful to commemorate eminent personages on the occasion of such meetings, especially if these meetings are instrumental in remembering the legacy left by those people and searching our conscience. For this reason, I hope that this event organized today will be instrumental in understanding our teacher Sabri Orman better, embracing his scientific legacy, and conveying his humanity to younger generations in the same way.”
Prof. Dr. Oğurlu stated that Sabri Orman stood at a very correct point in life and said: “He was one of the rare personalities who viewed life from the right perspective. Unfortunately, there are not many academicians who both excel academically and view life from the right perspective and at the same maintain his/her humility in the academic world. Whenever I went to see Sabri Orman, a calm, well-intentioned and honest man of wisdom, I had the opportunity to share something with him in peace even in tumultuous conditions, and I always felt the happiness to know such a personality. I could easefully discuss and share my future plans, projects, articles, and academic career with him, and I could see that he was making time for me with patience and interest. Because he was a personality who valued not only me, but also everyone who conferred with him, without exception.”
Stating that Sabri Orman was one of the rare people who managed to view life from the right point of view in addition to excelling academically, Prof. Dr. Oğurlu said, “He was someone who honored his office with his wise administration, not one who found honor in his office.”
“POWERFUL AND BRIGHT IDEAS ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN”
Mr. Öztürk Oran, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Ticaret University, said, “I commemorate Sabri Orman, who served as the rector of our university between 2009-2011, with mercy, gratitude and longing, on the second year of his death. Powerful and bright ideas are never forgotten.”
Mr. Oran stated that they are commemorating a great thinker who left deep traces in the world of Turkish thought and made the following evaluations: “The ideas, writings and books that Sabri Orman left behind continue to shed light on the future from today. We are protecting the legacy left by this great intellectual together. There are certain people who direct the course of history, open our horizons and show us what we cannot see. That’s what Sabri Orman Hoca was like. He guided many people like a beacon and continues to do so. For me, Sabri Orman represents the coming together of the spiritual world and academic thought. At the same time, his works are unshakable proofs that conclusively demonstrate the contribution of Islamic civilization to world history and science. His ideas need to be urgently addressed at both theoretical and practical levels.”
“THE ISLAMIC ECONOMIC MARCH THAT HE STARTED IN THE 1980s HAS CONTINUED FOR 40 YEARS, GAINING STRENGTH”
ITO President Mr. Şekib Avdagiç stated that they gathered to commemorate a pioneer scientist, a teacher, and an addressee of the phrase “The death of a scholar is like the death of the whole world”. Mr. Avdagiç has said, “More importantly, we have gathered to commemorate a thinker who was aware of the fact that domestic and national production, which we have not put off the agenda for the last 20 years, can only be possible with a domestic and national economic thought and strived for this, a science worker who worked day and night for this sacred purpose.”
Mr. Avdagic stated that Sabri Orman was a world-class academic, and he said, “Sabri Orman was an asset to us, not only on a national scale, but also on a global scale. As the ITO community, we tried to appreciate our teacher. We tried to benefit from him as a scientist, vice-rector and finally the rector.”
Noting that Sabri Orman tried to reveal a structure knitted with Turkey’s values instead of blindfoldedly committing to the dominant economic doctrines, Mr. Avdagic said: “Sabri Orman successfully proved that the ancient proposals to solutions are the most needed proposals in modern times. The Islamic economic march that he started in the 1980s continued for 40 years, gaining strength. Those who are present here in this hall today and the participants, who will tell us about the unknown aspects of Sabri Orman, are concrete examples of this. As the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Istanbul Ticaret University, we will endeavor to do our part to keep the name of our professor alive, to ensure that his works reach wider audiences, and to institutionalize the idea he put forward.”
After the speeches, the panel started. In the panel moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Babacan from Medipol University, Member of the ITO Assembly Mr. Erhan Erken, Istanbul Ticaret University Faculty Members Prof. Dr. Rahmi Deniz Özbay and Prof. Dr. Necdet Şensoy and YÖK (Council of Higher Education) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar talked about Prof. Dr. Sabri Orman from different aspects. The event ended with the presentation of gifts and a photo shoot.

