Recalling Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ's remarks about CHP's 7th President Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during his visit to the Cem Foundation: ‘Kılıçdaroğlu has collaborated with the government,’ he said, “Kılıçdaroğlu is a person who has never been involved in any shady activities, is honest, honorable and a value of this society. He is a person who fulfills the motto of ‘having his hands and waist and tongue’ in public service.” Kadir Polat, General Assembly Member and Vice President of Cem Foundation, who asked him to explain this claim, announced that he resigned from his position as Vice President of Cem Foundation.
Özdağ targeted, Foundation launches investigation
Ümit Özdağ quoted HALKWEB's post reporting Kadir Polat's question and used expressions such as “provocative Yazid” and “to show his service to his master”. Özdağ also called on the Cem Foundation to take the necessary action.
Cem Foundation made a statement and announced that disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Board Member Kadir Polat.
Kadir Polat resigned
Kadir Polat, on the other hand, made a statement and announced that he resigned from his position as the Vice President of Cem Foundation, which I have been carrying out while continuing my struggle on my path, which says: “Bite without consent is haram‘.
TO THE PUBLIC AND THE CEM FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In the meeting held during the visit of Mr. Ümit Özdağ to the Cem Foundation Headquarters on January 27, 2026, I would like to inform the public and respond to the developments that took place due to the question I posed to him... pic.twitter.com/7GalnjU6Wh
- Kadir POLAT (@kdrplt24) January 30, 2026
Kadir Polat's resignation statement is as follows:
TO THE PUBLIC AND THE CEM FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“Due to the developments that took place as a result of the question I posed to Mr. Ümit Özdağ during his visit to the Cem Foundation Headquarters on January 27, 2026, it has become necessary to inform the public and exercise my right to reply.
At the aforementioned meeting, Mr. Özdağ publicly stated during a visit to a Cemevi about three years ago;
“Cemevis will not be given the status of places of worship. We have never had such a proposal and never will. Otherwise, Salafist structures and sects would make the same demand.”
Reminded of his statement; I asked him the following question within the framework of his accusations against Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, which he expressed in a television program two days ago:
“You said that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is cooperating with the AK Party.
However, we consider him an asset as an honest and honorable statesman who has never been involved in any shady activities during his time in public service.
We believe that Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu is one of the people who best represents the basic principles of the Alevi doctrine of "keep your hands, your waist and your tongue" in public life.
Why are you hurting us with these statements?”
This question was asked by me during the meeting and I would like to state that I stand by my words. There is no insult, provocation or provocation in the content of the question.
However, in his post on the social media platform X after the meeting, Mr. Özdağ used derogatory and insulting expressions such as “provocateur”, “one person”, “serving his master”, “Yazid”, “KK stooge”, “plotting against the guest”; he also stated that Cem Foundation executives would “give the necessary lesson”.
These statements of Ümit Özdağ clearly contain insults, hate speech and faith-based insults.
I am making this clear:
- The understanding that characterizes an innocent question as “provocation” is far from the culture of democratic debate.
- While it is clearly stated that I am an executive of the Cem Foundation, it is he himself who makes the insinuation with the expression “one person”.
- I ask Mr. Özdağ, who accuses you of “serving your master”: Which political master did you come to the Cem Foundation to show your service?
- Calling a member of the Alevi faith “Yazid” is an ontological attack directly directed at the identity of the faith. I don't call someone like you, a figure of oppression, a street agitator, “Yazid.” I think it would even be an insult to Yazid.
- The expression “KK stooge” is the cheapest and lowest language of politics. Referring to Mr. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu with the abbreviation ‘KK“ is a style unbecoming of a political party chairman who is also an academic and far from political courtesy. You call me a ”KK lackey“. If that ”KK“ had been elected President, you would probably be the biggest lackey in Turkey.
- It is clear that those who make the accusation of “conspiracy” are the ones who know best the historical meaning of this term in Turkish politics.
Once again, I state it clearly:
Ümit Özdağ cannot regulate the Cem Foundation, cannot design the Cem Foundation.
The social media posts of the President of a political party cannot be a reference for the Cem Foundation's decisions and reflexes.
The emphasis in the Cem Foundation's public press release that “these statements belong entirely to Kadir Polat” is technically correct. As a matter of fact, Ahmet Rasim Tükek, the President of the Cem Foundation, has had contacts with other political party leaders besides Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu, and this is significant.
The tone and timing of the Cem Foundation's statement created the impression that our Foundation's base, the historical memory and social sensitivities of the Alevi faith have not been sufficiently penetrated.
The question inevitably arises as to whether this approach is part of a preconceived strategy.
This text is not a personal polemic; it is the expression of the Cem Foundation's will to uphold its supra-political stance, the historical memory of the Alevi faith and its institutional honor.
As part of this will;
It is not possible for me to work with the current management approach that acts in line with the expectations of politics, cannot even protect a board member who asks an innocent question, closes the WhatsApp group communication channel of Cem Foundation General Assembly Members and refers me to the disciplinary process.
For this reason, I respectfully announce to the public that I am resigning from my position as the Vice President of the Cem Foundation, which I have been carrying out, while continuing my struggle on my path, which says ‘unapproved food is haram’.”
Kadir Polat
Cem Foundation General Assembly Member