Zeynel Abidin Okul
Zeynel Abidin Okul (born 1968) is a Turkish politician and businessman.
Biography
Early life and education
Zeynel Abidin Okul was born in 1968 in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey. His family originally moved from Rize to Istanbul's Ortaköy neighborhood in 1936. He began his education in Ortaköy and later attended Kabataş Boys' High School. He pursued higher education at Yıldız Technical University, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Following his university studies, he traveled to the United States for language education.[1][2][3][4]
Career
Business
After completing his military service, Okul established his own business in 1998, focusing on construction and foreign trade. He currently serves as the chairman of the board of his company.[1][5]
Political career
Okul has been actively involved in politics within the Justice and Development Party (AKP). He served as the AKP Beşiktaş District Chairman and a Municipal Council Member for both Fatih Municipality and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). In 2014, he ran for mayor of Beşiktaş but was not elected.[1][6][3][4]
In April 2024, he was appointed as the AKP Group Deputy Chairman in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, replacing Esenler mayor Tevfik Göksu. He also holds the position of First Deputy Chairman of the İBB Council.[1][7]
In the March 2025 interim mayoral election of Istanbul, Zeynel Abidin Okul from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lost to Nuri Aslan of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Okul received 125 votes in the final round, while Aslan won with 177 votes, securing the position of interim mayor.[8][9]
Personal Life
Okul is married, and has three children.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Zeynel Abidin Okul Kimdir, Kaç Yaşında, Nereli, Nerenin Belediye Başkanı, Evli mi, Çocuğu Var mı?". Yeni Birlik Gazetesi (in Turkish). 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Zeynel Abidin Okul kimdir?". Halk TV (in Turkish). 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b "AK Parti'nin İBB Başkanvekili Adayı Zeynel Abidin Okul Kimdir?". İmece Gazetesi - Mersin Son Dakika Haberleri (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b "AKP'nin İBB Başkan Vekili Adayı Zeynel Abidin Okul Kimdir?". 24 Saat Gazetesi - Son Dakika Ankara Haberleri - Ankara Gazeteciler Cemiyeti (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Zeynel Abidin Okul kimdir ve aslen nerelidir? Zeynel Abidin Okul'un bilinmeyen hayatı…". Haber7 (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "İBB'de başkanvekili Nuri Aslan oldu". www.ntv.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Zeynel Abidin Okul kimdir, hangi partiden?". İşçi Haber - İşçi Haberleri, Son Dakika Haberleri, Güncel Haberler (in Turkish). 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "Istanbul elects Aslan interim mayor amid ongoing protests over Imamoglu". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "CHP'nin adayı Nuri Aslan İBB'de başkan vekili seçildi". BBC News Türkçe (in Turkish). 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.