Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar
Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality
Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar was born in 1969 in Siverek, Şanlıurfa. He began his education in Ankara and graduated from the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the Faculty of Languages, History, and Geography, Ankara University.
Following university, he worked in academia at Ankara University’s Turkish and Foreign Languages Research and Application Center (TÖMER) before moving into the public sector as a translator at the Export Promotion Center within the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade. He later held advisory and chief of staff roles at the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the State Ministry.
Gülpınar entered politics in 2007, serving four consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament for Şanlıurfa in the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th terms of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM). Throughout his parliamentary career, he played active roles on both national and international levels, including:
Chair, EU Harmonization Committee (26th & 27th terms)
Member, Equal Opportunity for Women and Men Commission
Member, Türkiye–EU Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
Member, Foreign Affairs Committee
Delegate, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
Member, Union for the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (UfM)
Chair, Türkiye–France Interparliamentary Friendship Group
In recognition of his contributions to diplomacy and European relations, Gülpınar was awarded the prestigious “Légion d’Honneur” by the French Government.
On March 31, 2024, he was elected Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, where he continues to lead ambitious development projects aimed at strengthening social welfare and raising the city’s international profile.
Awards & Recognitions:
Légion d’Honneur – French Government
2025 Cultural Ambassador, United Cities and Local Governments – MEWA
Grand Honor Certificate, 2025 – Croatian-Turkish Friendship Association
Most Successful Mayor of the Year, 2025 – Kent ve Başkan Magazine
Outstanding Service in International Relations, 2025 – INTISAD
Languages:
French, English, Arabic, Persian, Kurdish (Advanced proficiency)
Personal Life:
Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar is married with three children. Known for his visionary leadership, he is deeply committed to cultural preservation, multilingualism, and multilateral diplomacy, and continues to emphasize Şanlıurfa’s historic and strategic significance in both national and international forums.
