At the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Türkiye (TEPAV), we are deeply saddened by the passing of Prof. Dr. Hilmi Demir, our Director of the TEPAV Institute for Middle East and Central Asian Studies (TEPAV OAS).

Prof. Dr. Demir dedicated his academic life to advancing knowledge, furthering the understanding of societal challenges, and contributing to the development of public policy. After joining TEPAV in 2014, he conducted extensive research on the Middle East, Central Asia, radicalization, religious movements, security, and social transformation.

Through the field research he conducted on radicalization from 2016 onward, Prof. Dr. Demir made significant contributions to the development of this field in Türkiye. His work had a lasting impact on both academic scholarship and the formulation of public policy.

Prof. Dr. Demir served as Director of the TEPAV Institute for Middle East and Central Asian Studies from its establishment in 2020. In this capacity, he led the development of the Institute’s research capacity and played a pivotal role in institutionalizing regional studies at TEPAV.

A graduate of Ankara University’s Faculty of Divinity, Prof. Dr. Demir completed his doctorate in the Department of Kalam at Ankara University’s Graduate School of Social Sciences.

Throughout his academic career, Prof. Dr. Demir held positions at several universities. In 2023, he joined the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of TOBB University of Economics and Technology as a faculty member. In 2026, he assumed the role of Chair of the same department.

Widely recognized in national and international academic circles for his research on radicalization, Salafism, Islamic sects, terrorism, and the Middle East, Prof. Dr. Demir distinguished himself not only through his scholarly contributions but also through his public policy work. During his time at TEPAV, his research, reports, and analyses strengthened the institution’s knowledge production.

We mourn the loss of Prof. Dr. Hilmi Demir and extend our deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, and the academic community.