Mehmet Uyan (Konya, Turkey, 1957) comes to The Netherlands in 1976, where he works as a cleaner and in a car factory. When the factory closes, he finds work at the Amsterdam flower market and at a floriculturist, where he works for twenty years, until the place goes bankrupt. Between 1990 and 1997, Mehmet is vice chairman of the Selimiye Mosque in the Amsterdam suburb De Pijp. He is involved in the initial stage of development of the Riva terrain, and now lives around the corner from the Westermoskee in the Van Speijk Street. Mehmet has four children, three of whom are married, while one is in school.