Mehmet Ali Birand (9 December 1941 â 17 January 2013) was a Kurdish-Turkish journalist, political commentator and writer.
He was born to ðzzet and his wife Mürvet on 9 December 1941 in BeyoÃÂlu, Istanbul. Mother's side he was Kurdish. Kurdish descent from Palu, ElazñÃÂ. à Âerif Bey settled in EreÃÂli, Zonguldak, and married there a woman named Seniye Hanñm. Birand's maternal uncle was a diplomat, Mahmut Dikerdem.
He completed his high school education at Galatasaray High School.
Birand began his journalism career in 1964 by writing for the newspaper Milliyet. In 1992, he joined Show TV as a news presenter. Birand began hosting a political show titled 32. Gün (The 32nd Day), which was first on TRT in 1985 and then moved to other private TV channels such as CNN Türk and Show TV. He also presented the daily news on CNN Türk. Before his death in 2013, he worked at Kanal D, hosting the news.
He also authored several books including 30 Sñcak Gün, Diyet, Türkiye'nin Avrupa Macerasñ, 12 Eylül 04.00 and Emret Komutanñm.
Birand was also a member of Galatasaray's Board and Uncommitted Governance Council.
In 2006, he said that JITEM had asked Mahmut Yñldñrñm (Yeà Âil) to assassinate him, but that the operation was later cancelled, after Yñldñrñm had already investigated Birand's home security. Birand said that MIT chief à Âenkal Atasagun was one of those who had told him of this episode.
Birand died on 17 January 2013 from complications of gallbladder surgery to replace a stent at the American Hospital in Istanbul. He had been receiving cancer treatment for a while. He was 71 years old.