Manisa Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek was laid to rest Tuesday in what local officials described as one of the largest funerals in the city’s history, following his death from an electrical shock sustained at his private residence, the Dünya news website reported.
Zeyrek, 48, died on June 9 after 66 hours in intensive care at Manisa Celal Bayar University’s Hafsa Sultan Hospital.
He had been critically injured on the night of June 6 while trying to repair a malfunction in the equipment area of his home swimming pool, where he was exposed to a live electrical current.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced Zeyrek’s death on social media, offering condolences and praising efforts to save his life.
Thousands of mourners, including senior political leaders and grieving citizens, gathered at Manisa’s Cumhuriyet Square and Hatuniye Mosque for the public funeral.
Zeyrek’s body was first brought to Manisa City Hall for an official ceremony before being carried through the streets to the mosque.
His mother, Gülten Zeyrek, who reportedly suffered a medical episode after hearing of the incident, traveled to the funeral by ambulance and bid her son farewell before undergoing medical treatment.
Zeyrek’s widow, Nurcan Zeyrek, stood by the coffin in visible anguish, while their three daughters — Nehir, Elif and Zeynep — cried beside her.
Choking back tears, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel addressed the crowd, recounting his friendship with Zeyrek and the mayor’s passion for public service.
“Ferdi was more of a Manisan than I ever was,” Özel said.
“He loved his wife, his children, and this city with his whole heart.”
“We are lost without him,” he added, his voice breaking.
Zeyrek’s widow also spoke through tears, telling mourners, “He always said, ‘Nurcan, stay strong, we have three children.’ I will keep my promise.”
She added, “I will be both mother and father to our daughters. Please keep us in your prayers.”
Among the attendees were former CHP chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, Manisa Governor Vahdettin Özkan and party leaders from multiple political blocs.
The mayor’s body was carried by mourners on foot to Çatal Cemetery, about two kilometers away.
İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained in Silivri Prison, was not permitted to attend despite submitting a request to the Ministry of Justice.
His wife, Dilek İmamoğlu, and İstanbul Metropolitan Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan attended the funeral in his absence.
Zeyrek’s death has sparked an investigation into possible negligence.
Authorities have taken statements from dozens of people and are awaiting an expert report on the cause of the electrical failure that led to the accident.
Ferdi Zeyrek was elected mayor of Manisa in March 2024 in a historic victory for the CHP and was widely respected for his dedication to urban planning, civic service and community engagement.