Oxford crisis in the AKP: Rümeysa Kadak paid a fortune for the university she claimed she attended on a scholarship

AKP's 28-year-old Istanbul MP Rümeysa Kadak completed a master's degree in business administration at Oxford University with a scholarship awarded to only 4 people in the world. While Kadak shared photos from the graduation ceremony on her social media account, many users hinted at "nepotism."

"WHO PAID THE 70 PERCENT?"

Kadak responded to comments directed at her such as "Imam Hatip schools for the people's children, Oxford for you" and "What a fair world. 30 percent of the school is partially funded by a scholarship. Who paid the 70 percent?"

"I DID NOT DISRUPT PARLIAMENT"

Stating that there is no free education in England as there is in Turkey and that she studied with an official Oxford scholarship, Kadak said, "I am grateful to have qualified for this scholarship, which a maximum of 4 people can benefit from. I did not disrupt parliament for this program; if you look at the parliamentary records, you could see my attendance. As a clerk member, I don't even have such a possibility. If we are not in the bureau, the general assembly cannot begin its work."

"IT WAS CHOSEN AS THE BEST MASTER'S PROGRAM IN ITS FIELD"

The program I graduated from is already a master's program designed specifically for executives with heavy workloads. Another friend of ours who is a politician in Belgium is my classmate, as is a friend who serves as a dean at Columbia University, and friends who hold executive positions at the world's largest investment firms.

The program I studied in was chosen as the best master's program in its field in the world. But beyond that, I specifically wanted to study abroad because I thought there would always be those who claim I got there through nepotism regardless of which university I attended in Turkey. I never thought I would have to explain one day why I studied at Oxford," she said.

While Kadak, who received her master's degree through the "The Scholarships for Women" program prepared by Oxford University, did not share the fee she paid for the program with the public, the lowest fee for the program has emerged.

THE LOWEST FEE FOR THE PROGRAM IS 2 MILLION 662 THOUSAND LIRA

As reported by Sözcü, information on Oxford University's website reveals that the program costs an average of 121 thousand pounds (approximately 5 million 324 thousand TL). Furthermore, there is no "fully funded" student option for the program.

The first of the two different scholarship options offered to students consists of a scholarship program provided under the name 'Forté Foundation', which applies a 37 thousand 500 pound discount only to female students. Another scholarship for the master's program is known as 'Club MBA' and allows for a 30 percent discount on students' tuition fees.

While the tuition fee for students benefiting from the first scholarship corresponds to 3 million 674 thousand TL in Turkish Lira, those benefiting from the highest scholarship, Club MBA, are required to pay 2 million 662 thousand TL to Oxford University for their master's education.

ŞEBNEM BURSALI WAS ALSO AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY

AKP Izmir MP Şebnem Bursalı, who drew criticism in recent months for the "lobster" photo she shared from the Monaco Yacht Club, also attended Kadak's graduation ceremony. In her post, Bursalı said, "As the female MPs of our AK Party, we celebrated the Business Master's graduation of our Oxford-educated sister Rümeysa, who is our pride."

"YOU SUCCEEDED, FRIENDS"

Journalist Mehmet Çek, known for his proximity to the AKP, reacted to Bursalı's post. Çek stated, "If the purpose of these posts—under these economic conditions—is to poke and hurt the nation, if it's about 'poor people' talk? You succeeded, friends, but I wish you would disperse without pushing it further? We understood, okay: Lobster-eater Şebnem, Oxford-educated Rümeysa, Rolex-wearing Bahadır... Okay, congratulations."

"WE DID NOT SET OUT AS THE 'ELITES' OF THIS NATION"

A reaction to Bursalı's post came from former AKP MKYK member Mücahit Birinci.

In the post he made on his X account, Birinci used the following expressions:

"A politician may be wealthy, or may have earned a lot of wealth legitimately in their profession. The criterion here is that not a single atom of public right is in their wealth and that they have not become rich through politics.

However, presenting wealth of your own volition, striving to shove money into the nation's eyes, and sharing what is eaten and drunk of your own accord will result in being disconnected from society.

Whatever your standard of living, we did not set out as the 'elites' of this nation. This nation does not want a new 'elite' to plague it. Our President is a humble leader who emerged from the very heart of the nation. We, of course, must try to take him as an example on the political level.

That is all..."