Tag: ATIB

According to the Turkish-language newspaper Sozcu, the donation funds collected during Friday prayers at ATIB mosques in Vienna were allegedly embezzled. An intriguing detail is that high-ranking officials and embassy staff of the Turkish embassy in Austria, as well as a relative of an AKP minister, are said to have misappropriated the funds during wild parties with escort women. Thank God, the presumption of innocence applies to all parties involved.

Among the accusations brought forward during the ongoing five-year investigation is that, using the collected funds from Fridays and religious holidays, at least four escort women were invited, and lavish parties were held.

The scandals surrounding Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), which are not limited to Turkey’s territory but also come to light in European countries, show no signs of abating.

This time, the matter causing excitement in Austria involves Turkish imams, religious officials, and local staff, who are accused of “ordering escort women with donations from the community.”

The scandal involving embezzled alms and aid funds, as well as decadent parties with escort women, which began five years ago in Vienna, has still not been resolved.

F.M.K., a religious attaché operating on behalf of the Diyanet Foundation in Vienna and head of ATIB (Turkish-Islamic Union in Austria) with its 63 branches, along with M.Ş., another religious attaché, have been dismissed following the investigations.

Diyanet justified the dismissal of these officials with “disciplinary misconduct and inadequate performance.”

THE CHARGES

Among the allegations raised during the investigations are:

Donations collected especially on Fridays and religious holidays were not properly documented.
It is unclear what specific expenses the money was used for.
A significant portion of income from pilgrimage trips (Hajj), sacrificial animal campaigns (Kurban), the sale of religious books, and funeral funds is said to have been spent in entertainment venues.
With these funds, at least four escort women are alleged to have been invited, and lavish parties held.
To conceal these expenses, they were recorded in the association’s budget as “costs for residence permits, rent, and imam expenses.”
Inspectors conducting checks are said to have been invited on trips and outings funded by the donations, in an attempt to cover up the investigations.
A RELATIVE OF A MINISTER

Among those dismissed, there is reportedly a relative of a former AKP minister. Austrian authorities are closely monitoring the case.

HOW ATIB Collects Money

ATIB, which is at the center of these allegations, regularly organizes events to raise funds.