Zorlu Holding CEO steps down amid religious freedom scandal

The CEO of Zorlu Holding, Cem Koksal, has been forced to resign after being accused of violating the religious freedom of his employees and briefly arrested, according to Turkish media reports on Sunday. A court has also banned him from traveling abroad as the legal proceedings continue.

The controversy erupted following an internal email exchange concerning Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. On Friday, Ergun Guler, CEO of Vestel, an electronics subsidiary of Zorlu Holding, sent a message to employees celebrating the start of Ramadan.

In response, Cem Koksal stated that the company only officially recognizes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, the two major Islamic holidays, but not the beginning of Ramadan. He further emphasized the company's commitment to maintaining a secular stance, stating:

"As we strive to become a multinational company, we expect to have employees of all religions and nationalities."

The internal email soon leaked on social media, sparking public backlash.

Following the public uproar, the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against Koksal on Saturday, citing "violation of the freedom of belief, thought, and expression," according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Later that day, Koksal was arrested and questioned. However, he was released under judicial supervision on Sunday, with a travel ban imposed by the court, as reported by the private news agency DHA.

In response to the escalating controversy, Zorlu Holding announced on Saturday evening that Koksal had resigned from his position as CEO.

The incident highlights Turkey’s ongoing tensions between secularism and religious expression, particularly in the corporate world. The case is expected to continue drawing public and legal scrutiny in the coming weeks.