Burak poses for a photograph with his father Ismail Ozdemir. File

Gulf Today Report

Ismail Ozdemir denied the accusations levelled against him by his son, the famous Turkish chef Burak about selling the rights to his restaurant’s name without his knowledge, for $41 million to a foreign businessman.

In his most recent media appearance since his son accused him of fraud, Burak's father said that his son is promoting things contrary to the truth, and that Burak took such actions at the behest of his mother (ex-wife), from whom he inherited the “genes of hostility.”

Regarding the decrease in the son's wealth, the father said that his son had spent a lot of money donating to the victims of the Hatay earthquake a few months ago, stressing that this step was motivated by publicity and advertising, not by human feelings.

Regarding the seizure of the restaurant’s rights, the father explained that the truth is the exact opposite, as he was the one who took care of him and directed him to social media.

The father said no one knew who Burak was two years ago.

Recently, Turkish websites mentioned that the father had a long history in the field of business before Burak Al Saghir was born. He worked in many fields, including the textile industry and down to the field of restaurants, which helped support his son until he reached fame.

Chef Burak, owner of the CZN Burak restaurant chain, accused his father of secretly defrauding him, and that he had sold the rights to exploit his name, i.e. Burak, to a foreign businessman without his knowledge, stressing that he would continue his career in the world of cooking on his own.

He also indicated, in a clip circulated by the social media platforms, that he no longer owns any restaurant under his name, except for one restaurant in Istanbul, saying: “I hope you will not be deceived by the thieves who take advantage of my name and image.”

Burak wrote on Instagram, “The first and only Czn Burak Vadİstanbul Mall in Istanbul. We will soon share with you the opening date. We don't have any other branches in Istanbul. We have branches in Dubai, Qatar and Tajikistan ️.”

Burak Ozdemir began selling his luxury cars, to provide the necessary liquidity to implement the designs of his new restaurant, which he will open next September, in conjunction with the Turkish judiciary considering his case against his father and accusing him of fraud.

A hearing will be held in the case he filed against his father in September.