ZONGULDAK — 1999 · Murder

Murder of Şemsi Denizer

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

Şemsi Denizer was a trade unionist, president of the General Mine Workers' Union and general secretary of the Türk-İş confederation. In 1990 he effectively launched the Great Miners' Strike by putting on the first strike vest in Gelik, and afterwards he led the miners' march from Zonguldak towards Ankara; he was nicknamed "Turkey's Walesa". On 6 August 1999 he was shot dead outside his home in Zonguldak. The gunman, Cengiz Balık, was sentenced by the Burdur High Criminal Court on 22 June 2000 to 25 years and one day in prison, and the Court of Cassation upheld the verdict. Balık was released from prison in 2018. Trade unionists and miners continue to remember Denizer as a symbol of the labour struggle in Zonguldak.

Date: 1999
Place: Central, Zonguldak
Category: Murder
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: 41.4520, 31.7900 ↗

Timeline of Events

1990-1991Denizer leads the Great Miners' Strike and march
6 Aug 1999Shot dead outside his home

22 Jun 2000Gunman Cengiz Balık sentenced to 25 years and 1 day
2018Balık released from prison

Sources

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