Draft:Altay Suroy

Biography
Altay Suroy was born on September 24, 1949, in Prizren, Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia. He completed his primary and high school education in Turkish in Prizren and graduated from the Faculty of Law at Pristina University in 1971. . Suroy began his professional career as a journalist with the Tan newspaper in Pristina in 1969, gaining recognition for his travel articles

He later returned to Prizren and worked as a legal professional in a state company from 1972 to 1977, served as a judge at the Municipal Court of Prizren from 1977 to 1990, and practiced as an independent lawyer from 1990 to 2000. . Suroy also worked as a prosecutor from 2000 to 2006 In addition to his legal career, Suroy was a staunch advocate for the rights of the Turkish community in Kosovo, contributing articles and making public statements to fight for equal rights for the Turkish people living in Kosovo. His writings, covering political, social, cultural, and literary themes, were published in both Turkish and Serbian languages. . He was Deputy Minister of Justice in Kosovo from 2006 to 2009 and played a significant role as a constitutional law expert in drafting the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. In 2009, he was elected as a founding member of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, serving until his retirement in July 2018

Literary works
Altay Suroy's literary journey began with his poems being published in newspapers like Birlik and magazines such as Sesler. His first poetry book, "Yaya 73" (1974), encapsulates his experiences during his military service days. Other notable works include "Köprü" (1983), "Dünden Yarına" (1987), "Masal Gibi Bir Hayat" (1998), and several research and analytical writings on Turkish identity and culture in Kosovo, such as "Kosova’da Türk Olmak" (2000) and "Kosova’da Türk Kültürü veya Türkçe Düşünmek" (2001). He came to Turkey every year since 1968. He is the President of the Kosovo Turkish Writers Association

Suroy's work has been featured in various magazines and journals over the years, and he has participated in numerous poetry events in Turkey and contributed research papers at conferences and symposiums. His research includes several papers and books on the Turkish culture and community in Kosovo.

Awards and Recognition
Altay Suroy has received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions in both the legal and literary fields, including the Balkans Service to Turkish Culture award and an honorary doctorate from Baku Asian University.