Abdülhamit Bilici is a journalist and media executive in exile in the United States following political turmoil and government oppression of the pres in Turkey. Before leaving the country, Bilici served as editor-in-chief of the newspaper Zaman, the largest daily newspaper in Turkey with over one million circulation. He was also Chief Executive Officer of its English-language version, Today's Zaman. Before that position, Bilici served as general director of Cihan News Agency and editor of Aksiyon Weekly Magazine.
Bilici is an expert on international relations, mainly Turkish foreign policy and is widely sought as a speaker on press freedom and dangers of populism both as a witness and a victim of antidemocratic surge. He gave series of conferences at universities, think tanks and platforms of NGOs like World Affairs Council, Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, World Editors Forum, Middle East Institute, etc. Bilici is editor of the book “Why Turkey?” which examines diverse European and Turkish perspectives on Turkey-EU relations.