"Whistleblower" social media influencer who promotes cleaning products fined for "Hidden Advertising"! Criticized the amount of the penalty.

Known for his cleaning videos and the nickname "Foşur foşur" on social media, Cem Özkök was fined 500,000 TL for not using the "Advertisement" label during product promotion. Özkök strongly criticized this penalty.

HEAVY PENALTY FOR "LAVENDER OIL"

Cem Özkök, a social media influencer who gained popularity with his cleaning videos at his own home, has been sharing these videos on his social media account and they have been viewed by millions of people.

Cem Özkök, who created a brand for the lavender oil he used in his videos and promoted this brand on his own social media account, received a heavy penalty from the Ministry of Commerce. Cem Özkök, who announced the incident on his social media account, expressed his reaction to the Ministry of Commerce by saying, "Is this fair? Is it really halal?"

"EVERYONE KNOWS THE FRAUDS AND TAX EVADERS"

In the post Cem Özkök made in response to the 50,000 TL fine, he stated, "Everyone knows everything, the frauds, the tax evaders. I have never said a word. While all these things are happening, while there are accounts, while there are people who make fake advertisements for money 24/7, a great shame has been done to someone who does such beneficial work in Turkey, who earns money and donates it to charity, who helps those in need, who lives honestly and halal, who sets an example for young people and people of all ages, who pays taxes to the state as much as a factory does." These statements attracted attention.

Here is the full text of Özkök's post;

"To the Ministry of Commerce;

I just paid a fine of 500,000 TL. Just because I didn't write an advertisement on my story about Ceef's lavender oil, which is my own brand. (I posted hundreds of stories stating #advertisement and Turkey knows that it is my own brand). They said 'this is hidden advertising', I said 'this is my own brand, here are my company information, taxes, etc.' They said 'you should have written advertisement', a #500,000 TL. Now I ask, is this fair? Is it really halal? For example, there may be a hidden advertisement or a situation contrary to the declaration. I would share it openly, no problem. If they are right, I would pay it like a lion. But I do not forgive this situation. Why? Everyone knows everything, the frauds, the tax evaders. I have never said a word. While all these things are happening, while there are accounts, while there are people who make fake advertisements for money 24/7, a great shame has been done to someone who does such beneficial work in Turkey, who produces content, who cleans all public areas including environmental ones, who starts charity projects, who earns money and donates it to those in need, who raises awareness in society, who lives honestly and halal, who sets an example for young people and people of all ages, who has fear of God and earns halal money, and who pays taxes to the state as much as a factory does. There must be some good in this too. Allah will give it from somewhere else, that's a separate issue! But you cannot fine someone who is so giving for his own brand! It's not right! Maybe I would have done a charity with that money? I found someone in need and was going to renovate their house? Why did I throw this money away unjustly? Now I ask; isn't this entering someone's rights? My lawyer has filed a lawsuit against this injustice and is following the process. Everyone eats the bread of their heart..."