Funeral ceremony and prayer takes place for Menderes at Fatih Mosque

ISTANBUL (A.A) - December 25, 2011 - A funeral ceremony and prayer took place for the late deputy Aydin Menderes at Istanbul's Fatih Mosque on Sunday. Menderes's coffin is now being taken to the Mausoleum in Topkapi district of Istanbul. Former deputy Aydin Menderes passed away in capital Ankara on Friday. Menderes had been under treatment at Ataturk Training & Research Hospital due to problems in his immune system since November 25. Born in 1946 in Ankara, Menderes began politics in 1970 at Democratic Party. He became deputy from Justice Party in 1977, leader of Great Change Party (he was the founder of the party) in 1993, leader of Democrat Party in 1994, deputy leader of Welfare Party in 1996, and deputy from Virtue Party in 1999. He quit politics in 2002. Aydin Menderes was the son of Adnan Menderes who was Turkey's prime minister between 1950 and 1960 and was executed by the military junta after 1960 coup.