Ilkay Gündogan receives Mevlüde-Genç Medal for social cohesion

Former German national football player Ilkay Gündogan has been awarded the Mevlüde-Genç-Medaille by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for his contributions to social cohesion and tolerance. The award was presented by Minister President Hendrik Wüst during a ceremony at the German Ambassador’s summer residence in Istanbul, Turkey.

Gündogan, who is currently playing for Galatasaray Istanbul, was recognized for using his platform to combat discrimination, racism, and exclusion, and for building cultural bridges between Germany and Turkey. The ceremony was attended by several figures, including footballer Leroy Sané.

The Mevlüde-Genç-Medaille was established in 2018 to honor individuals or groups promoting understanding and peaceful coexistence. It is named in memory of Mevlüde Genç, a victim of the 1993 arson attack in Solingen that resulted in the deaths of several family members.