Statement from the General Manager of the Eski Diyanet Foundation following allegations of fund fraud

Izani Turan, General Manager of the Turkish Religious Foundation, stated that his decision to leave office has nothing to do with the fund profiteering allegations brought to the agenda today and said, "I absolutely reject the comments that associate this decision with the allegations in question."

In his statement on his social media account, Turan stated that he felt the need to make a public statement due to the allegations regarding the funding investigation made against him and the Turkish Religious Foundation.

Stating that he personally conveyed his request to leave office to the President of Religious Affairs, Safi Arpaguş, immediately after the new administration took office, Turan said, "First of all, I would like to express that my decision to leave office has nothing to do with the funding allegations brought to the agenda today. I absolutely reject the comments that associate this decision with the allegations in question. Duties come and go. Leaving a duty is a part of the normal flow of life. Presenting this situation as a crime and punishment means making a judgment without a concrete basis."

Stating that TDV does not have any relationship or transaction with the funds in question, Turan said, "We did not make any interest-bearing transactions, we seek refuge in God from this. We did not have any interest in stock market transactions either. Protecting the foundation resources from interest and illicit activities as much as possible is a religious sensitivity for us as well as a requirement of the responsibility of complying with the trust."

"I HAVE NO RESERVATIONS ABOUT INVESTIGATION OF EVERY ISSUE TO THE FINEST DETAIL"

Stating that the donations are collected at different times and the aid is delivered to the beneficiaries within a certain process, Turan continued as follows:

"During this period, it is a corporate responsibility to benefit from appropriate interest-free transaction opportunities within the framework of the foundation deed and relevant legislation, in order to prevent the resources from losing value against inflation. This approach, which has been implemented since 2015, is not just the personal preference of the general manager or his team, but is an application carried out within the framework of the management and decision mechanisms of the foundation. No personal benefit has been gained from these transactions and the institution has not suffered any damage resulting from the application. Institutional records, including all transaction records, decisions and documents, are open to inspection by the competent authorities. "I have no reservations about investigating the matter down to the smallest detail. In order for the truth to be revealed without any hesitation, it is sufficient to evaluate the allegations based on concrete information and documents."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Following allegations that donations collected for Gaza were used in investment funds at the Turkish Religious Foundation, high-level dismissals took place. According to the new development reflected in the public, the General Director of the Turkish Religious Foundation Izani Turan and his deputies Recep Şükrü Balkan and Fatih Kayacan were dismissed from their duties.