A prominent Turkish-American activist, Ibrahim Kurtulus, has voiced serious concerns over the leadership of Ambassador Muhittin Ahmet Yazal at the Turkish Consulate General in New York, calling for a reassessment of the post to restore trust and effective community engagement.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Turkish Foreign Minister H.E. Hakan Fidan, Kurtulus—who has been actively involved in diplomatic and community relations for over three decades—highlighted a growing disconnect between the Consulate and the Turkish-American community under Ambassador Yazal’s tenure.

“I have lived on Staten Island for 46 years and in America for 54 years and have been actively engaged in community service as a proud American activist since 1995,” Kurtulus wrote.

He emphasized his long-standing relationship with the Consulate, dating back to the tenure of Fuat Tanlay, and noted that his only motivation has been to “defend our Kefensiz Yatanlar.”

Kurtulus expressed disappointment at the Consulate’s declining engagement efforts, contrasting Yazal’s approach with his predecessors, whom he praised for their grassroots involvement and proactive communication.

He specifically pointed to the abrupt cancellation of Yazal’s scheduled visit to the Pakistani mosque on Staten Island on January 24, 2025, which had been planned months in advance to honor a community that had consistently supported Türkiye through financial and humanitarian contributions.

“The abrupt cancellation, communicated without prior notice and with no alternative date, caused deep disappointment and embarrassment,” he stated, adding that the Pakistani community had also been excluded from a previously promised event with President Erdoğan.

Further frustrations arose when an invitation to an iftar dinner was declined on the grounds that high-level delegations would be present in New York throughout March 2025, a claim Kurtulus found dubious.

“In my 35 years of experience, I have never encountered a situation where a delegation remains in New York for an entire month,” he remarked, suggesting that the excuse was an evasion rather than a valid reason. He also cited concerns over the Consulate’s handling of the passing of Turkish Korean War veteran Kamil Sor on January 17, 2025, noting that while Deputy Consul General Tugay Şen promptly reached out, Ambassador Yazal failed to acknowledge the veteran’s death, a lapse Kurtulus called “unacceptable and deeply painful.”

Kurtulus also criticized the lack of follow-through on critical issues such as the mislabeling of Turkish products as “Smyrna” instead of “İzmir,” which he believes fuels anti-Türkiye narratives. Despite assurances that action would be taken, he noted that even Costco had been more responsive than Türkiye’s own diplomatic representatives.

He urged Minister Fidan to reconsider the appointment of a diplomat who can “fully grasp the urgency and complexity” of representing Türkiye in New York. He praised former Consul General Reyhan Özgür, recalling an instance where he connected with the community via FaceTime while en route between engagements—contrasting this with Ambassador Yazal’s delayed and often unresponsive communication.

“Under Ambassador Yazal’s tenure, responses—if received at all—often take between 36 and 46 hours, creating unnecessary delays in addressing urgent community matters,” he added.

Closing his letter with a plea for reform, Kurtulus stressed that his concerns were not personal but rather aimed at ensuring a strong, unified Turkish-American community under effective leadership.

He reminded Yazal of the first word of the Turkish National Anthem: “Korkma.”