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Descendants of Türkiye’s Ottoman dynasty are preparing legal action against a man who allegedly presents himself as a member of the former imperial family and spreads inaccurate claims on social media.
Using the name “Sina Osmanoglu”, though his actual name is said to be Ahmet Memecan, the individual recently announced a same-sex marriage and framed it online as “the first marriage in my dynasty,” prompting sharp reactions from genuine family members.
Members of the Ottoman family living in Türkiye state that the individual’s posts mislead the public and tarnish their reputation. A. Kayihan Osmanoglu explained that many people in Türkiye carry the surname “Osmanoglu,” although the dynasty’s original family name is “Al-i Osman.”
He noted that the man using the Osmanoglu surname “tries to stain our family” and is said to have deceived people in the past. He added that legal action will be initiated soon.
Associate Professor Ibrahim Pazan, an academic known for his research on the Ottoman dynasty, told Türkiye daily that there is no one named “Sina Osmanoglu” in the family’s genealogical records. He stressed that anyone in Türkiye may legally take the surname Osmanoglu and that thousands who do so have no link to the dynasty. According to him, the individual in question spreads false historical information while implying royal lineage.
Reports also recall earlier accusations that the same person posed as a dynasty member to deceive people through alleged gold-related fraud schemes. Similar impersonation cases have appeared in Türkiye before.
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