Fund crisis in Diyanet: He did not comply with his own fatwa, donations and zakat money to Palestine were 48 percent low!

The recent fluctuations in investment funds have also spread to the Presidency of Religious Affairs. According to the news of Sözcü Newspaper's Yavuz Alatan, after the fund crisis, President of Religious Affairs Safi Arpaguş intervened in the situation and ordered an exit from the funds. However, this panic exit resulted in the institution losing 48 percent of its investment.

According to the allegations brought forward by Yavuz Alatan; The amount that could be withdrawn from the fund was quickly transferred to a participation bank. Although Diyanet sources claimed that "there was no loss" by stating that the money was deposited in a different fund, it was noted that there was a serious decrease in the amount of fund participation fee. What is even more remarkable is that although the foundation wanted to withdraw all its money from the fund, it ran into official procedural obstacles. It is stated that the foundation was only able to recover half of the invested money, and the other half is still stuck in the fund.

The repercussions of the process also found a response in the political world. Key Party Deputy Chairman Özcan Gündör had a private meeting with the President of the Turkish Religious Foundation (TDV), İzani Turan, regarding the issue. Allegedly in this meeting; It has been confirmed that the money allocated for Palestine and other areas of urgent need has been used in the funds. The reason for this move was given as the recommendation of the General Directorate of Foundations that "the money should be evaluated so that it does not melt against inflation".

The fact that the money that should be delivered to those in need is put at risk in investment instruments brought to mind a fatwa previously published by the Diyanet.

The Supreme Council of Religious Affairs made the following statements in its decision published on March 23, 2022:

"It is not permissible for zakat property to be disposed of for profit by charitable organizations that mediate the distribution of zakat, before it is given to the rightful owners."

The institution's implementation of a financial transaction that was expressly prohibited by its own high council, stating that it was "not permissible", and the subsequent claim of great loss caused public reactions. An official and detailed statement has not yet been made by the Diyanet regarding the extent of the damage and the fate of the money remaining in the fund.