04.11.2026 14:00
Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zorlu Holding, is being sent off on his final journey with a funeral ceremony held after he passed away at the age of 82. While many names from the business world attended the funeral prayer at Levent Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa Mosque, the words of his wife Zülal Zorlu, 'He left and abandoned me,' were heart-wrenching. In line with Zorlu's will, making donations to foundations instead of sending wreaths also drew attention.
A funeral ceremony was held in Istanbul for Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zorlu Holding, one of Turkey's leading businesspeople. Zorlu's family, relatives, and leading representatives of the business world gathered at the ceremony for Zorlu, who was reported to have been undergoing cancer treatment for some time and passed away at the age of 82. The emotional moments at the funeral laid bare the pain experienced by the Zorlu family.
HIS WIFE'S WORDS WERE HEARTBREAKING
Ahmet Nazif Zorlu's wife, Zülal Zorlu, could not hold back her tears as she said goodbye to her life partner for the last time. Zülal Zorlu's words, "He left me and went away," caused emotional moments at the ceremony. Zorlu's daughter, Şehminur Zorlu Aydın, also shed tears at her father's coffin.
ABDURRAHIM ALBAYRAK RECOUNTED THEIR LAST CONVERSATION
Abdurrahim Albayrak, who attended the funeral ceremony, recounted his phone conversation with Ahmet Nazif Zorlu about 1.5 months ago. Stating that Zorlu called him after a television broadcast, Albayrak relayed their last conversation with these words:
"As soon as the broadcast ended, he called me 1.5 months ago. 'Tears came to my eyes while you were speaking,' he said. May his resting place be in heaven. Thousands of people earned their living from him."
LEADING NAMES OF THE BUSINESS WORLD GATHERED AT THE FUNERAL
Turkey's 11th President Abdullah Gül also attended Ahmet Nazif Zorlu's funeral ceremony. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül conveyed his condolences to the Zorlu family.
Many names attended the ceremony, including Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Erdoğan Demirören, Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, Abdülkadir Albayrak, Rıfat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Fuat Tosyalı, CoreX Holding Chairman of the Board Yüksel Yıldırım, OYAK CEO Murat Yalçıntaş, Hakan Ateş, Serdar Bilgili, Ahmet Dördüncü, Burak Elmas, and Hasan Arat.
Representatives from different sectors of the business world shared the Zorlu family's grief and conveyed their condolences.
HE WAS SENT OFF WITH NEARLY 2,000 WREATHS
One of the striking details about Ahmet Nazif Zorlu's funeral was his wish that no wreaths be sent. It was stated that Zorlu asked those who wanted to send wreaths to donate to foundations instead. Many names from the business world complied with this request and made donations to various foundations.
Among the businesspeople and institutions mentioned in connection with the funeral were names such as Ali Koç and Nevbahar Koç, Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, Murat Ülker, Nihat Özdemir, Ebru Özdemir, Murat Besim Tibuk, Erman Ilıcak, Ahmet Çalık, Cemil Kazancı, İzzet Garih, Sani Şener, Halit Cıngıllıoğlu, and Turgay Ciner.
In addition to Sabancı Holding CEO Kıvanç Zaimler, Hamdi Akın of Akfen Holding, Ömer Dinçkök, Çiğdem Simavi, Ali Ağaoğlu, Ali Kibar, Lucien Arkas, and Sinan Öncel, Fiba Holding, İş Bankası, Alarko Group of Companies, MSC Holding, Yıldızlar Investment Holding, Limak Holding, Tahincioğlu Group, and Aksoy Group were also among the institutions mentioned.