Allegations that Kızılay seized the fortune of a woman who made a donation!

Kızılay, which came to the agenda for selling tents during the February 6 earthquakes, is now on the agenda with a new scandal. It is alleged that the Kızılay Karşıyaka Branch President deceived 89-year-old Zehra Özizmirli and seized her fortune, which consisted of 22 properties. 

According to the report by İsmail Arı from BirGün; a woman named Zehra Özizmirli wanted to donate two of her apartments to the Kızılay Karşıyaka Branch for "charitable purposes" in memory of her mother and father, who passed away in 2021. It is alleged that Kızılay officials "deceived" the woman and ensured that she donated her entire fortune, consisting of 22 shops, plots of land, and apartments, most of which are located in Manisa, to Kızılay. 

When Zehra Özizmirli realized that all of her assets had been taken from her, she filed a lawsuit against Kızılay together with her daughter. During the legal process, the statement sent by Kızılay to the Karşıyaka 4th Civil Court of First Instance included the following expressions: 

“On September 27, 2021, Zehra Özizmirli contacted the Kızılay Branch Presidency of her own free will, without being under the influence or pressure of anyone, and stated that she wanted to make a real estate donation and receive information on this matter. Upon this, the Branch President of the institution, Kamil Karadeniz, contacted her. In order to meet with the plaintiff and receive information about the donation, the institution's branch secretary and staff visited the plaintiff's home in İzmir-Bostanlı on the same day to provide information. The plaintiff requested that the procedures be carried out quickly so as not to encounter objections from her daughter regarding the donation procedures. Following these developments, in line with the determinations made upon the plaintiff's own request, the donation acceptance procedures for Zehra Özizmirli were initiated by the client institution.

In order for the donation procedures of the plaintiff Zehra Özizmirli, who wanted to donate her real estate, land, and shares to the client Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay), to begin, a donation petition was obtained from her on September 29, 2021, with her own handwriting and wet signature, in accordance with the Turkish Red Crescent General Headquarters donation acceptance procedures. In accordance with the petition received, it was reported to the client institution's general headquarters for donation acceptance/approval. Subsequently, the client institution's real estate donation management directorate conducted research on the places to be donated and determined that there was no obstacle. Along with this, the donation acceptance process was initiated, and during this process, the client institution ensured that the plaintiff was visited regularly and that her needs were met and her requests were fulfilled.”

In the statement provided by Kızılay, it was also alleged that the 89-year-old woman was subjected to mistreatment by her daughter. 

'I CRIED UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER SEE'

Before she passed away, Zehra Özizmirli recounted what she had been through to her relatives and lawyers. 

In her speech, which was also recorded on video, Özizmirli said the following:

"I have helped Kızılay a lot until now, I still have my letters. They sent me congratulatory letters. I said, 'Let me go to Kızılay.' I asked my neighbors, 'Can you find the address of Kızılay for me?' They found the address. I went for two apartments. I said, 'I will give two apartments to Kızılay for my mother and father.' They took the two apartments, then they researched all my assets without telling me. They found my father's fields that I didn't even know about, they researched them. He came to me and said, 'Aunt Zehra, you have a lot of property in Alaşehir, what will you do with it at this age? I have transferred all of them to Kızılay as well,' he said. He did these things without asking me. 'I haven't left you any of your property anymore, I have donated all the property you have to Kızılay,' he said. I collapsed on the table right there. 'What will I eat now, my son?' I said. 'We will take care of you,' he said. 'How will I make a living?' I said. I am not eating or drinking, I am grieving now. I cried until I could no longer see."

PASSED AWAY IN 2024

Zehra Özizmirli passed away on August 12, 2024, at the age of 92, while her legal battle was still ongoing. A rejection decision was issued for one of the two lawsuits filed against Kızılay, and the decision was appealed. The other lawsuit is still ongoing.