Bekir Salim

Bekir Salim is a Turkish artist, poet, singer, columnist, and TV radio broadcaster. Born in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1964, Salim joined the Turkish army as an Infantry Lieutenant in 1986. After serving for 11 years, he voluntarily retired from the army in 1997.

Salim grew up with art, music, and poetry since he was 6. Winner of several awards in painting and poetry in nationwide contests in Turkey, Salim has served as a judge in a number of competitions, including the Konya Ashiks Festival with other masters of music for seven years in a row, and experience he holds most dear. He was also on the same board of judges with George Zamfir, one of the best living musicians of the world known as the Master of the Pan Flute, who composed the famous “The Lonely Shepherd.”

The most recent developments in his home country of Turkey brought his path to the United States of America where he was given political asylum for the prosecution he had in Turkey against him and many others who opposed the Government of Turkey.

While in Turkey, Bekir Salim was a columnist at the best seller daily in Turkey, Zaman Newspaper. He was also a producer at one of the largest Media Outlets, Samanyolu Television and Burc FM Radio station. He was known as a f...