16.11.2026 01:01
Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, known to the public as "Cübbeli Ahmet," recounted how the jet ski photo that made headlines years ago came to light. Ünlü claimed that the person who had taken him to sermons for 15 years secretly took the photo and tried to sell it to a newspaper for 10 million lira. Ünlü, who alleged that the same person also sold valuable Ottoman calligraphy panels that he had entrusted to him before going to prison, said, "There is no such thing as a friend, there is no such thing as loyalty."
Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, known to the public as “Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca,” recounted the betrayals he said he had experienced from those close to him in the past at the “Samsun Talks” event organized by the Mahmudi Shura Associations Federation. Stating that a person whom he trusted and who had taken him to preaching programs for years had sold his valuable belongings, Ünlü said that after what he experienced, his trust in people was shaken.
HE HAD ENTRUSTED THEM BEFORE ENTERING PRISON
Recounting that before entering prison in January 2000 he had received reports that his house would be raided, Ünlü said he entrusted valuable calligraphy panels dating from the Ottoman period to a person he knew in order to protect them. Noting that the person in question was in good financial shape and had taken him to preaching programs for years, Ünlü used the expressions, “He has a Mercedes, he is a rich man. I said to myself, he surely would not steal my property. I trusted him.”
“I GOT OUT; HE SAID, ‘I SOLD THEM’”
Stating that after leaving prison, when he asked for the panels he had left in trust, he encountered an unexpected answer, Ünlü recounted what happened in these words: “I got out, he said, ‘I sold them.’ Man, how did you sell them? Did you ask me? ‘I asked your father.’ I ask my father; he said he did not ask me. Good Lord. I have lived through these things.”
Saying that the panels had a very high monetary value, Ünlü emphasized the magnitude of the loss he suffered, saying, “He caused me such a great financial loss.”
DON’T LET THE TURBAN AND ROBE DECEIVE YOU
Stating that the person he alleged had sold his belongings was from religious circles, Ünlü said outward appearance can mislead people. Ünlü used the expressions, “The man has a beard too. When he comes to İsmailağa, he wears a robe and wraps a turban. That kind of man. He is still alive.”
Stating that he also told Mahmud Ustaosmanoğlu about what he had experienced, Ünlü used these expressions: “Do not let his abundant turban and robe deceive you. Do not let a man’s prayer and fasting fool you. Look at money matters. Look at financial dealings. When you entrust something to him, does he pay it back? Look at that. When he takes a loan, does he repay it? Test the man on a journey. Try the man in shopping. Do not be deceived because he performs the tahajjud prayer.”
HE SOLD MY PHOTO TO THE NEWSPAPER IN THE JET SKI AFFAIR
Ünlü alleged that the same person had also betrayed him in another incident in the past. Claiming that a photograph taken of him during the jet ski affair was allegedly attempted to be sold to Hürriyet newspaper, Ünlü said, “The man took me around for 15 years. After that, in the jet ski affair, he took my photo and sold it to Hürriyet newspaper. He was asking Hürriyet newspaper for 10 million, saying he would give them this photo.”
Arguing that there was nothing inappropriate in the photo, Ünlü used the expressions, “There is no shameful act of mine there. I have a haşema on me. My private parts are not exposed. There is nothing.”
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FRIEND, NO SUCH THING AS LOYALTY
Reacting to what he had experienced, at the end of his speech Ünlü lamented that trust and loyalty no longer remain in human relationships, saying, “There is no such thing as a friend. There is no such thing as loyalty. There is no such thing as honesty. Nothing called trust remains.”