The Metropolitan Municipality’s Children’s Traffic Education Park Has Been Named After Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi
The Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality paid a meaningful tribute to the family of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who lost his life in a knife attack in Istanbul, by naming the Children’s Traffic Education Center in Akyazı after him. Metin Genç, Mayor of Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, said, “We had promised his beloved family that we would create a space in our city of Trabzon where Ahmet’s name would live on forever.”
This article was translated automatically from Turkish. Türkçe orijinal ›
Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç hosted the family of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi, who lost his life in a knife attack in Istanbul, at the Metropolitan Municipality’s Children’s Traffic Education Center in Akyazı. A surprise was arranged for the mother, Yasemin Akıncılar, and father, Andrea Minguzzi, whose late son’s name was given to a park. Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç expressed his delight at hosting the family, stating, “After saying our final goodbyes to our child, we also visited his grave in Istanbul. There, we promised his dear family that we would create a space in our city of Trabzon where Ahmet’s name would live on forever. We have named this beautiful space—which we view as a very important educational area for our children—after our dear Ahmet Minguzzi,” he said.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS
Mayor Genç continued: “Today, we wanted to welcome his family here. Once again, I pray for God’s mercy upon our child and for patience for his family. We will also name a street in the village of Of after Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi. On this occasion, I would like to emphasize that we are closely monitoring this process to raise awareness within the community. We once again strongly condemn and denounce such attacks.”
IT WAS A WONDERFUL SURPRISE FOR US
Mother Yasemin Akıncılar said, “I’d like to thank our mayor, who has always been by our side from the very beginning. It was a wonderful surprise for us. We were very moved here. Trabzon hosted us. Our mayor came all the way to Istanbul, and we met. I wasn’t expecting something like this—I was so happy. Ahmet loved Trabzon very much. He used to come here every summer; he loved the village atmosphere,” she said. Father Andrea Minguzzi, noting that the surprise had moved them deeply, said, “I’m in shock—it’s such a beautiful place; thank God for our mayor. Sports and education are very important for preventing violence. Right now, my son Ahmet will be a beacon of light. May it bring good fortune,” he said. Later, the heart drawn on the “Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi” graffiti artwork—created by artist Yıldıray Yıldırım in the cafeteria section of the Children’s Traffic Education Center—was painted by Mayor Genç, mother Yasemin Akıncılar, and father Andrea Minguzzi.
