Turkish Forum

Tag: Deniz Feneri

  • CHP leader: Turkey Deputy PM Atalay is ‘mole’ in charity fraud probe

    CHP leader: Turkey Deputy PM Atalay is ‘mole’ in charity fraud probe

    Main Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu claimed that Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay warned members of the German-based religious Turkish charity fund Deniz Feneri(Lighthouse) and its affiliated television channel Kanal 7 prior to a police operation to arrest members who were implicated in charity fraud.

    CHP head Kılıcdaroglu: AKP deputy PM Atalay is ''Mole''
    CHP head Kılıcdaroglu: AKP deputy PM Atalay is ''Mole''

    CHP leader stated during his party’s parliamentary group meeting that deputy prime minister is providing insider information to suspects in a high-profile charity fraud investigation in a long-awaited revelation. Besir Atalay, who was the interior minister at a former administration, was the person who had warned them of a possible police search of their offices prior to the raid that took place on July 6. He reiterated his claims that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has links to the alleged corruption within (Deniz Feneri) Lighthouse Charity Fund and accused the ruling party of trying to cover up an ongoing investigation into the allegations of fraud

    Former Turkish Interior Minister : Suspect in Islamic Charity Fraud ?

    “Who did the interior minister learn from that there would be a police search [of the offices of Deniz Feneri suspects]? He possibly learned about it from the police officers at the National Police Department. When he left his post as interior minister, his private security manager left the ministry but his official security manager is still with him. Atalay fears he the official security manager will reveal all the facts and get him into trouble,” alleged CHP Head Kılıcdaroglu.

    “These documents prove that the suspects were informed about the raid,” said Kılıçdaroğlu, giving information on telephone calls made on Sept. 14, 2009. The raid took place on Oct. 16, 2009.

    CHP head Kılıcdaroglu: AKP deputy PM Atalay is ”Mole”

    “This is the dossier of the mole,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, lifting up the dossier in his hand to a cheering audience. “The mole is Beşir Atalay.”

    The ruling AKP denied immediately any links with the charity and recently called on the CHP leader to prove his claims. Releasing a written statement on Tuesday, Atalay said Kılıçdaroğlu’s claims were all lies and slander aimed at him. Atalay rejected Kılıçdaroğlu’s accusations in a written statement released late yesterday. Atalay’s statement said Kılıçdaroğlu should “look into those who betray their professions and leak secret documents” if he is looking for a mole.

    The Deniz Feneri (Lighthouse) administration is accused of funneling money collected for charity from pious workers in Germany into various companies and businesses in Turkey. In September 2008 a German court convicted three Turkish men of funneling $26 million in charitable contributions raised by Deniz Feneri to companies run by conservative individuals in Turkey. The Lighthouse probe was launched in Turkey after a Frankfurt court in 2008 convicted three managers of the Lighthouse e.V. charity in Germany for embezzling 40 million euros. Most of the money is believed to have ended up in Turkey in the coffers of the pro-government and conservative islamist Kanal 7 television channel and a business group whose owners are close to the AKP government.

    Nearly a dozen people have been arrested as part of the investigation thus far. Former Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) head Zahit Akman, Kanal 7 Deputy General Manager İsmail Karahan, News Editor Mustafa Çelik, CFO Erdoğan Kara and Kanal 7 CEO Zekeriya Karaman are also among the suspects arrested. Ali Solak, who is suspected of acting as the “bank” for the suspected charity fraud ring, was also arrested as part of the investigation into the charity’s Turkish links.

    Lighthouse charity fraud : on EU agenda

    The Lighthouse case was high on the agenda of a meeting between Kılıçdaroğlu and the co-chair of the Germany’s Greens, Claudia Roth, late on Oct. 9.

    Roth denounced the removal of the three original prosecutors from the case as an open intervention into the judiciary, CHP sources said. In a pointed response, Kılıçdaroğlu said the EU was also responsible for the incident because of the support it gave to last year’s constitutional amendments that changed the structure of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

    “Europe did not hear our voice and backed the AKP [Justice and Development Party] in the referendum,” Kılıcdaroglu was quoted as stating. Claudia Roth voiced “serious concern” over freedom of press in Turkey, the sources said, adding that she also suggested that the CHP seek dialogue with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as part of efforts to resolve the Kurdish conflict.

    via CHP leader: Turkey Deputy PM Atalay is ‘mole’ in charity fraud probe.

  • Arinc Demands the Resignation of Turkey’s Media Watchdog

    Arinc Demands the Resignation of Turkey’s Media Watchdog

    Arinc Demands the Resignation of Turkey’s Media Watchdog

    Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 6 Issue: 110
    June 9, 2009
    By: Saban Kardas

    Turkey continues to debate the implications of an ongoing controversial fraud case in the German courts involving, among others, individuals close to the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP). After the Turkish courts launched this case, the Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc added a new dimension to the debate. Arinc has publicly called on the head of the top media watchdog, the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK), Zahid Akman, who was implicated in the case, to resign from his post, which has reignited tension between the government and the opposition.
    German prosecutors initiated legal proceedings against a charity established by Turks living in Europe. Deniz Feneri e.V. (Lighthouse e.V.) allegedly channeled donations made in Germany to private corporations in Turkey owned by close allies of the AKP. When these reports first emerged, it triggered controversy, since media outlets in the Dogan Media Group questioned the involvement of AKP supporters and the government’s silence over allegations of corruption (EDM, September 11, 2008; February 20).

    The German court requested judicial assistance from the Turkish authorities concerning several individuals, including Akman, for their involvement in the case. The German investigation identified Akman “as the shareholder and executive of three companies in Germany. The German authorities also documented that Akman was the executive of a German-based cooperative, into which another investigation was launched because of fraudulent activities” (Hurriyet Daily News, June 8).

    The opposition and other critics of the AKP accused the government of stalling the investigation into the Turkish side of the Lighthouse case, by using various delaying tactics. They speculated that there might be evidence contained within the dossier sent by the German court establishing links between the Lighthouse case and officials close to Erdogan. If the money transferred to Turkey was used to finance the AKP’s activities, it might have serious political repercussions within the country. Since the Turkish constitution prohibits political parties from receiving funds from foreign countries or organizations, such links might result in another closure case being instigated against the governing AKP (Hurriyet, May 14; Hurriyet Daily News, June 3).

    Although Akman has been the subject of a parliamentary inquiry, and a court case was filed to overthrow him, he has remained defiant (ANKA, May 12). Finally, Arinc said that he had asked Akman to resign during a private meeting, in order to avoid any damage to the RTUK. He added that Akman had agreed (www.haberturk.com, May 21). Arinc is one of the leading figures within the AKP and is known for his strong stance against corruption. Since he was appointed as the deputy prime minister during the last cabinet reshuffle, he has stressed his commitment to pursuing an ethical approach to politics. As the state minister, Arinc also oversees the RTUK.

    Arinc’s statements were welcomed by other members of the AKP government as well as the speaker of the Turkish parliament Koksal Toptan (www.cnnturk.com 22 May). The cabinet speaker Cemil Cicek even implied that Akman could have been asked to resign by the prime minister -prior to Arinc’s request (www.haberturk.com, May 25).

    After one week of silence, Akman spoke to Haberturk in an effort to clear his name. He said he was not asked by Arinc to resign; Arinc only inquired as to “whether he was considering resigning.” Akman refused saying that stepping down would have been perceived as an acknowledgement of guilt. He maintained that the allegations are being used to weaken the RTUK’s reputation. He added that he will remain in his post until his tenure ends on July 14, and he will not seek any extension. Finally, he challenged those “who were seeking to undermine his reputation” and said that “at the right moment,” he will respond to these allegations (www.haberturk.com, May 30).

    Although Haberturk reported that Akman claimed he enjoyed the firm backing of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his lawyer denied this (Anadolu Ajansi, May 29). In the meantime, as part of the Turkish investigation, an Ankara court issued precautionary measures against the properties of Akman and other individuals. Responding to a question on these developments, Erdogan said that he was not in a position to defend Akman. “He has continued to defend himself very well and will continue to do so,” Erdogan added (Anadolu Ajansi, June 6).

    On June 6 Arinc repeated his call for Akman’s resignation. He added that he had no authority to remove the RTUK chief because he is appointed by parliament -nor can he be removed by Erdogan. He also emphasized that no AKP member was implicated in the fraud case. Later, Erdogan reacted harshly to speculation that the money from Lighthouse was funneled to the AKP (Anadolu Ajansi, June 6 and June 9).

    The opposition parties, however, did not find the government’s arguments convincing. They believe that the government has failed to adequately address the issue. One CHP representative, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, known for previously publicizing corruption cases involving AKP members, asked Arinc to resign, arguing that it was shameful that a minister was unable to command a bureaucrat under his authority (Anadolu Ajansi, June 1). Moreover, the CHP leader Deniz Baykal, accused the government of failing to force Akman to resign, and argued that the government’s delay had provided an opportunity for Akman to conceal evidence (Taraf, June 8).

    Depending on the progress of the current case, tensions within Turkish politics might increase. The opposition parties will continue to press the government to take action against Akman and the corruption allegations, since such high profile cases allows them to weaken the AKP’s popularity. As Akman struggles to clear his name and leave office with an unblemished record, the AKP will have to protect its image as a corruption-free party -perhaps ultimately by sacrificing Akman.

    https://jamestown.org/program/arinc-demands-the-resignation-of-turkeys-media-watchdog/