Murat Emir (born 31 March 1969, Hekimhan) is a Turkish ophthalmologist, jurist and politician from the CHP. He has served as an Ankara MP since 2015 and became the CHP’s deputy group chair in parliament in 2024.
Early Life and Family
Murat Emir was born on 31 March 1969 in the district of Hekimhan in Malatya, Turkey. His father’s name is Ali and his mother’s name is Şehriban. He spent his childhood years in Malatya and later moved to Ankara for high school education, graduating from Ankara İncirli High School in 1985.
Education
After finishing high school in 1985, Emir was admitted to Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine and graduated in 1992 as a medical doctor.
He then specialised in ophthalmology:
- Between 1992 and 1996 he completed his residency in Ophthalmology at Ankara Hospital of the Ministry of Health.
- He later worked as a clinic chief and responsible physician in ophthalmology clinics at various public hospitals.
Alongside his medical career, Emir continued his studies in law and academia:
- In 2009 he graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law.
- In 2008 he obtained a master’s degree in laser physics from Heidelberg University in Germany.
- He completed his PhD in the Department of History of Medicine and Ethics at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine with a thesis in the field of health law and received the title of Doctor of Science.
Thanks to this multi-disciplinary background, Emir is known as an ophthalmologist, a jurist and a politician with academic experience.
Medical and Professional Career
After his residency, Murat Emir worked as an ophthalmology clinic chief in several public hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health.
In 2005 he resigned from public service and founded the “Emir Eye Diseases Private Clinic” in Ankara, where he continued to work as an ophthalmologist. His professional focus has included:
- Diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases,
- Laser applications in ophthalmology,
- Health law and medical ethics.
Entry into Politics
Emir’s political involvement began during his university years, when he took part in the youth branches of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Over the years he held various positions within the party organisation.
At the 37th Ordinary Congress of the CHP he was elected as a member of the Party Council, one of the party’s top decision-making bodies.
Parliamentary Career and Duties in the Grand National Assembly
Murat Emir entered active parliamentary politics with the June 2015 general election:
- In June 2015 he was elected as a CHP Member of Parliament for Ankara’s 2nd electoral district.
- He was re-elected from the same district in the November 2015, 2018 and 2023 general elections.
Thus he has served consecutively in the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th terms of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as an Ankara MP.
In parliament he has taken part in various commissions and international parliamentary groups, including:
- Membership of the Constitutional Commission of the Grand National Assembly,
- Membership of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Turkish Group.
CHP Deputy Group Chair in Parliament
After Burcu Köksal was elected Mayor of Afyonkarahisar, the position of CHP group deputy chair in parliament became vacant. On 18 April 2024 Murat Emir was elected to this post, making him one of the highest-ranking figures of the CHP in the Grand National Assembly.
As deputy group chair he:
- Represents the CHP group in general assembly debates,
- Helps shape the party’s legislative strategy in parliament,
- Frequently voices strong criticism on issues such as the rule of law, judicial independence, health policies and allegations of corruption.
Political Views and Areas of Work
Within the CHP, Murat Emir is particularly known for his work and statements on:
- Health policies and the rights of health workers,
- Judicial independence and the principle of the rule of law,
- Public tenders, the use of public resources and corruption allegations,
- Social state principles, social security and the fight against inequality.
His background as both a doctor and a lawyer is reflected in his speeches on health law, patient rights and medical ethics.
Wealth and Public Debate
In 2024–2025 several media reports discussed lists of real estate properties allegedly registered in Murat Emir’s name. Newspapers and TV programmes claimed that he owns various properties in Ankara as well as in Antalya, Bodrum and Eskişehir, and called for a detailed explanation of his wealth and for an investigation by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
According to publicly available information, there is no final court ruling or officially published MASAK report establishing that his assets were obtained through illegal means. At this stage the issue largely remains a matter of political and media debate rather than a concluded judicial process. On Netlopedi this topic is mentioned only to summarise the public controversy within a biographical framework.
Private Life
Official biographies state that:
- Murat Emir speaks English fluently and has intermediate knowledge of German.
- He is married and has two children.
In interviews he has said that he continues to read extensively and follow scientific publications in his spare time.