Reha Muhtar Passes Away: A Legendary Figure in Turkish Television Journalism

Reha Muhtar, one of the most recognizable and influential figures in Turkish media, has passed away while receiving treatment in hospital. He was 66 years old and had been battling serious health issues.

Muhtar was taken to hospital after falling ill at his home in Bodrum, where he was initially diagnosed with heart failure. Despite medical efforts, he could not be saved.

His health condition was first publicly shared by his former wife Deniz Uğur, who stated that their children Mina and Poyraz were traveling to be by their father’s side and asked for prayers.

Born in Istanbul in 1959, Muhtar began his journalism career in the early 1980s after graduating from Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Sciences, School of Press and Broadcasting. He started at Milliyet newspaper as a foreign affairs correspondent before moving to TRT, where he gained recognition as a correspondent in Athens.

During the 1990s, he became one of the most prominent figures in Turkish television journalism, best known for his program “Ateş Hattı” and his distinctive presenting style on Show TV’s main news bulletin. He worked across major Turkish networks including TRT, Kanal D, Show TV, Star TV, ATV, and CNN Türk.

Beyond television, Muhtar was also active as a columnist for major newspapers such as Sabah, Star, Akşam, and Vatan.

Throughout his personal life, he often remained in the public eye and was the father of twins Mina and Poyraz.

His colleague Uğur Dündar previously shared details about Muhtar’s earlier health struggles, noting that he had experienced periods of isolation during recovery and received significant humanitarian support from certain individuals.

His passing marks the end of an era in Turkish journalism and television broadcasting.