Turkish prosecutor investigates Zorlu Holding CEO over Ramadan email

Turkish police have detained Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal for allegedly "obstructing religious freedoms" after he sent an email stating the company remained neutral on religious matters. Zorlu Holding has announced that Köksal has resigned from the position.

Saturday March 01 2025 11:37 pm

Duvar English

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal on charges of "obstructing freedom of belief, thought, and expression."

According to information shared on social media, Ergün Güler, CEO of electronics company Vestel, a subsidiary of Zorlu Holding, sent a message to employees celebrating the start of Ramadan.

In response, Köksal sent an internal email, reminding employees that as a company, they only recognized Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official celebrations.

After the email spread on social media, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation, according to Anadolu Agency.

The prosecutor's office stated that CEO Köksal had sent an email instructing employees "not to celebrate Ramadan," and the office launched an investigation into him on charges of "obstructing the exercise of freedom of belief, thought, and expression (Article 115 of the Turkish Penal Code).

According to İhlas News Agency, law enforcement officers from the Istanbul Security Directorate’s Public Order Branch detained Köksal as part of the investigation.

Zorlu Holding announced on March 1 that Köksal resigned from his position, acknowledging the "sensitivity" that arose after an internal discussion between CEOs Köksal and Güler regarding management principles became public.

Following this development, we announce that Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal resigned from his position as of March 1, 2025.

Since its founding in 1953, Zorlu Holding has upheld family values and business ethics, integrating with the national and moral values of our country. Our group, shareholders, and entire management team have always been engaged in social matters and acted responsibly.

As Zorlu Group, we express our regret to all our stakeholders and the public regarding these recent developments."

On Feb. 28, Vestel CEO Güler sent an email to employees extending Ramadan greetings. In response, Zorlu Holding CEO Köksal sent an email stating that the company "maintained neutrality on religious matters and that such messages should not be shared at an institutional level."

In his message, which was later shared on social media, Köksal wrote, “As a company, we maintain a secular stance. As we strive to become a multinational corporation, we expect to have employees from all religions and nationalities.”

Zorlu is one of the biggest holding companies in Turkey, and operates in a variety of sectors from mining to real estate.