From the cotton fields of Anatolia to the Berlin Parliament

In his autobiographical account, Turgut Altuğ looks back on a life journey that took him from a family of farm labourers in Southern Anatolia, via the universities of Ankara and Izmir, to Germany and finally into Berlin politics. It is a story of departure and arrival, of loss and hope, of social justice and political engagement.

Turgut Altuğ will read excerpts from his book and offer insights into his personal life story. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for a discussion between the author and the audience.

Dr Turgut Altuğ was born in southern Turkey in 1965 and attended school there. He comes from a family of farm labourers. After finishing school, he studied political science and agricultural science in Turkey. He then emigrated to Germany in 1992 and wrote his doctoral thesis on the ‘Characterisation of Criollo goats in their production environment in the Andean valleys of Bolivia’ (awarded a PhD in 2002 from the University of Hohenheim).

He worked for several years in the field of environmental protection and nature conservation in Berlin; in 2006, Altuğ joined the Alliance 90/The Greens party. Among other honours, he received the Federal Government’s Integration Medal in 2010 for his commitment to the environment and education.

Until 30 November 2025, he served as spokesperson for nature conservation, environmental and nature education, and agriculture and food for the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the Berlin House of Representatives. He has been a member of the SPD since December 2025.