Galatasaray footballer İlkay Gündoğan awarded the 2025 Mevlüde Genç Medal
The North Rhine-Westphalian State Government honored İlkay Gündoğan with the award for his stance against racism and exclusion.
Galatasaray's Turkish-German footballer İlkay Gündoğan has been deemed worthy of the 2025 Mevlüde Genç Medal due to his work in the fields of peace, tolerance, and social solidarity.
Purpose and History of the Award
The medal, awarded by the North Rhine-Westphalian State Government, aims to keep alive the exemplary and unifying stance shown by activist Mevlüde Genç against her grief, after losing her family in the arson attack on her house in the city of Solingen in 1993.
Ceremony Held in Tarabya
The award ceremony took place at the historical summer residence of the German Embassy in Tarabya, bringing together numerous figures from the political and sporting worlds.
North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wüst, embassy officials, executives from the Galatasaray Club, and the coaching staff attended the event.
Statements by İlkay Gündoğan
Speaking after the ceremony, İlkay Gündoğan stated that this award is very special and a source of pride for him, emphasizing that he wants to leave a better world for his children.