Journalist Threatened by 'Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca'

Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, a controversial Islamic preacher also known as "Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca" ('Master Ahmet with the gown'), invited Taraf newspaper journalist Fırat Alkaç and photo journalists Celal Yıldız to his office and had allegedly threatened the journalist by press advisor Barış Sezek and his bodyguards.

Journalist Alkaç published an interview with Saadettin Ustaosmanoğlu, nephew of the Ismailağa Congregation leader Mahmut Ustaosmanoğlu, last week. Alkaç wanted to talk to Ünlü as well in order to reflect the controversy within the congregation. Ünlü is a possible successor of congregation leader Ustaosmanoğlu.

"They surrounded me and tried to intimidate me"

Ünlü suggested talking "face to face" so the journalist went to a meeting with him on Monday (1 March). Alkaç claims to have been threatened in the Arifan magazine office in Eyüp, a district on the banks of the Golden Horn in Istanbul.

Alkaç said that he was taken to a room with a steel door which was opened with a remote control by the bodyguards. There, the journalist was supposedly surrounded by Ünlü, press advisor Sezek and the bodyguards and was exposed to an attempt to intimidate him.

No recording devices allowed for Alkaç

In his article, Alkaç had written about the increasing competition within the İsmailağa Congregation. Ünlü had accepted the journalist's request for an interview. However, when the journalist arrived for the interview, Ünlü apparently said, "I will not give an interview, I just called you to get to know you". Alkaç summarized the events as follows:

"Ünlü told me that he wanted to give me information on allegations about him. Even though I was suspicious because four people surrounded the place where I was sitting, I started to ask the questions I had prepared. We agreed not to take pictures and I did not even take my recorder out of my bag. Nevertheless, Sekez took his own recorder, switched it on and positioned it between me and Ünlü. One hour later the photo journalist had to leave because of another engagement. Ünlü said that I carried out a biased interview with Ustaosmanoğlu and that I had been deceived. I replied that I tried to reach him personally but did not succeed and that the fact that I met Ünlü himself was an indicator for my neutrality. Ünlü responded, 'You played into the hands of the Ergenekon people with this article. Do not be deceived by them. Ustaosmanoğlu is no person of importance!' he said".

Sezek: We do not do anything this time

The journalist stated that afterwards Sezek stood up and said "I will show you know with whom you are dealing". The bodyguards started approaching Alkaç and the journalist reminded Ünlü that he was here upon his invitation. Ünlü apparently answered, "I like you. You are a good person".

One of Ünlü's staff members whispered to Sezek "Are we not going to do anything to him?" and Sezek replied, "This time we will not do anything". (EÖ/VK)