Haydar Baş (28 January 1947 – 14 April 2020) was a Turkish political figure, businessman and religious leader. He is best known for founding and leading the Independent Turkey Party (Bağımsız Türkiye Partisi), for his stewardship of several media outlets, and for heading a small Turkish branch of the Qadiriyya (Kadiri) Sufi order. His public profile combined political activity, media ownership and religious leadership, making him a distinctive if relatively marginal figure in Turkey's contemporary public life.

Political activity and organization

Baş established and led the Independent Turkey Party, a minor political party that participated in national politics and election campaigns as an alternative to Turkey's larger parties. Under his leadership the party articulated positions intended to appeal to conservative, patriotic and religious-minded voters, while remaining outside the mainstream of Turkey's most dominant political forces. The party remained small in electoral terms but maintained a continuous organizational presence.

Business and media interests

In addition to politics, Baş owned and managed multiple media properties. These included television channels and print publications that served as platforms for his views and for community news. Notable outlets associated with him included television stations and newspapers as well as magazines. His media holdings gave him channels to communicate with supporters and to shape coverage of topics important to his movement.

Religious role and background

Haydar Baş also acted as a spiritual leader within a branch of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, a historic Sufi tariqa with roots in the broader Islamic world. In Turkey he led a smaller, localized branch, combining elements of spiritual guidance with social and cultural activity. This dual role — religious guide and party leader — reflected a pattern in which spiritual authority and political ambition intersect.

Death and legacy

Baş died on 14 April 2020 in a hospital in Trabzon after contracting COVID-19, during the global coronavirus pandemic. His passing attracted attention in Turkish media and among his supporters; reports of his death are available from contemporary news coverage (report) and public statements (announcement). He was 73 years old.

Notable distinctions

  • Combined roles as politician, media owner and Sufi leader, an uncommon mix in Turkey’s public sphere.
  • Founder and long-term leader of a small, formally organized political party that remained active in national life.
  • Used media outlets to communicate political messages and to sustain a loyal following.