18.08.2026 23:10
The investigation into the death of Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, the former Minister of Transport and leader of the Süleymancılar community, who passed away in 2016, has been reopened years later, and it has been decided to exhume his grave. Following this decision, a large number of community members gathered at Karacaahmet Cemetery and recited prayers.
Upon learning that the grave of former Minister of Transport and leader of the Süleymancılar community, Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, in Istanbul's Karacaahmet Cemetery would be opened tomorrow morning, many community members visited and recited prayers.
THEY FLOCKED TO KARACAAHMET
Following the news that the death of Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, an architect, former deputy, former Minister of Transport, and leader of the Süleymancılar community who passed away in 2016, had been brought back onto the investigation agenda years later, and that a decision had been made to open his grave tomorrow morning, community members flocked to the graveside.
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OFFERED PRAYERS
During the visits that continued throughout the day, many community members surrounding the grave offered prayers. As a large crowd gathered around the grave ahead of the grave-opening procedure scheduled for tomorrow morning, community members were seen continuing their visits accompanied by their prayers.
WHAT HAPPENED?
A very significant development occurred in the investigation into the death of Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, the former leader of the Süleymancılar and former Minister of Transport. In line with the decision made, Denizolgun's grave will be opened and a detailed forensic examination will be conducted on his remains. Thus, whether the death, which has been the subject of debate and questions for years, occurred due to natural causes or whether there was any external intervention or poisoning will be clarified through the reports of the Forensic Medicine Institute.
SUSPICIOUS FINDINGS AND ALLEGATIONS WERE ON THE AGENDA
In the investigation file regarding Denizolgun's death, the delay in reporting the death to authorities, suspicious findings allegedly found on the body, and allegations of irregularities in the forensic examinations of the period had long occupied the public agenda.
The Denizolgun family had also recently applied to the Ministry of Justice's Department for Investigation of Unsolved Crimes to lift the veil of secrecy over the death. The Department, closely following the process, has been conducting coordinated work with the chief public prosecutor's office to shed light on past suspicious death files.
ALIHAN KURİŞ WAS APPOINTED AS COMMUNITY LEADER AFTER HIS DEATH
Former Minister of Transport Arif Ahmet Denizolgun was the maternal uncle of Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan's grandson and current community leader Alihan Kuriş. After Denizolgun passed away at his home in Beykoz on September 8, 2016, his nephew Alihan Kuriş was immediately appointed as the leader of the community. Alihan Kuriş, however, was subsequently arrested along with 32 suspects in the 'Alihan Kuriş Criminal Organization' investigation.