The Ottoman dynasty’s descendants in Turkey are initiating legal proceedings against a man pretending to be a member of the former sultanate and disseminating falsehoods on social media, as reported by Türkiye Today.
Claiming the name Sina Osmanoğlu, though his actual name is reportedly Ahmet Memecan, the man recently declared a same-sex marriage, showcasing it online as “the first (such) marriage in my dynasty,” which incited strong reactions from genuine family members.
Family members of Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire’s ruling dynasty, assert that the man’s posts are misleading the public and damaging their reputation. A. Kayihan Osmanoğlu stated that while many in Turkey have the surname Osmanoğlu, the dynasty’s original surname was Al-i Osman. He remarked that the individual using the Osmanoğlu surname is “trying to tarnish our family” and has been accused of past fraudulent activities. He mentioned that legal action is forthcoming.
Experts verify that no individual with that name appears in the official family tree of the dynasty.
Associate Professor İbrahim Pazan, renowned for his research on the Ottoman dynasty, informed Türkiye Today that there is no Sina Osmanoğlu in the family’s genealogical records. He emphasized that any Turkish citizen can legally adopt the Osmanoğlu surname and that those who do have no affiliation with the dynasty. He indicated that the person in question is disseminating false historical information while implying a royal lineage.
Turkish media also revisited previous accusations that the same individual impersonated a dynasty member to scam people through various gold-related fraud schemes.
Illustrative Photo by Ikbal Alahmad: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-dolmabahce-palace-10570295/
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