The process, which reveals the audit weaknesses of the Presidency of Religious Affairs in its foreign organizations, started with allegations of irregularities within ATIB (Austrian Turkish-Islamic Union), headquartered in Vienna.

It was also alleged that some ATIB managers of the period prepared travel plans for the inspectors who came to inspect and that the inspection process turned into touristic visits. Due to the allegations that attracted great public reaction, Diyanet severed the ties of five senior officials with the institution. It was reported that among those dismissed were Religious Services Counselor FMK, Attaché VHE, M.Ş., AT and staff MD. It was noted that one of the dismissed people was a relative of a former minister.

To the public, “Escort Scandal" It was stated that behind the scenes of the scandal, hundreds of thousands of euros from the association’s revenues were spent unregistered.

Allegedly, a significant portion of the association’s revenues were used in entertainment venues and “Escort services”. It was also claimed that the expenses were recorded in the system with items such as “Imams’ residence permit expenses” in order to be overlooked.

PANIC LIES

Following BirGün’s news about the scandal, the Austrian Turkish-Islamic Union made a statement and rejected the allegations. In the union’s statement, the allegations were described as “unfounded allegations, slander and gossip.” On the other hand, ATIB’s statement said, “We see it as a malicious approach to bring up an issue that was rumored years ago again.”

Despite the denial, Deputy President of Religious Affairs Fatih Mehmet Karaca confirmed the news in his speech at the commission meeting he attended in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. In response to the MPs’ question about what happened in Austria, Karaca stated that the scandal that BirGün brought to the agenda in 2025 took place in 2019 and said, “Following a complaint that was brought to the agenda in 2025 but reached our Presidency in 2019, our Presidency was investigated by the Guidance and Inspection Directorate and all personnel involved in the incident were dismissed.”

THERE MAY BE ERRORS

Karaca argued that the Diyanet conducted an investigation into the issue and “Whatever was necessary was done in terms of administrative and disciplinary provisions at every stage.” Noting that those involved in the scandal have been cut off from the institution, Karaca said, “The system has operated in a healthy way. Therefore, unfortunately, where there are people, there may be some mistakes, even if undesirable, and when these mistakes are detected, it is out of the question to cover them up or do anything similar.”

News dated July 31, 2025; source

A new claim has been made regarding the Diyanet’s “unrecorded expenditure and escort allegation” scandal. It was claimed that the file of a personnel included in the investigation was closed in a short time due to concerns that it would “lead to other names”.

According to information obtained from Diyanet sources, as the investigation progressed, the name of a female personnel named E., who worked at Diyanet, was also included in the file. HTS records revealed that E. had long telephone conversations with some of the names in the investigation file. E. applied to the institution and requested an “independent investigation” regarding the allegations against him.

According to Diyanet sources, it was examined by a special inspector. filewas closed in a short time. It was stated that the file was separated from the main file and closed due to concerns about “reaching out to other names”. It was reported that the developments were also reflected in the official authorities in Austria, and the religious officials sent from Türkiye were closely monitored due to the “ATIB scandal”.

News dated August 17, 2025: source2

The file of E., for whom an independent investigation was carried out regarding the scandalous allegations, which were reflected to the public as the “Escort scandal”, "relative of a senior politician" It was claimed that it was closed due to attempts.

EXPENDITURE IS CLOSE TO 1 MILLION EUROS

After the union’s statements that sparked debate, new allegations regarding the scandal came to the fore. In the file in Austria, it was stated that the source stated as “Missing” was close to 1 million euros, including the money spent “for escort services and private entertainment expenses”. Although the source of the money has not yet been determined, it has been stated that some officials of the Diyanet spend donations and aid inappropriately, despite salaries reaching 7 thousand euros per month.

Allegedly, VH, who worked at ATIB but was dismissed following the investigation, went to Prague “for fun”. It was claimed that F.M., who worked as a consultant at ATİB and was another expelled person, was left at the consultancy building by Turkish taxi drivers working in Austria, drunk many times after leaving the entertainment venues.

The most striking allegation was against E, against whom a separate investigation was carried out upon his request. It was also claimed that E had a doctor’s report “to prove that he did not have sexual intercourse” and that the report was recorded in the file “as proof of the claim that E did not have sexual intercourse with the mentioned people” and that E’s file was closed by a relative of a minister in Türkiye.

RE-EXAMINATION OF THE FILE

Diyanet sources stated that the President of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbaş, re-examined the file after the issue came to the public agenda and had information notes prepared on the subject. Stating that no official step has been taken regarding the allegations yet, Diyanet sources said, “The real wave will occur when all the details of the file are revealed. Then it will be clearer why those who did not take action and remained silent are silent.”

On the other hand, it was learned that the current consultant in Austria was also investigated for a file independent of the escort investigation and came to Ankara to hold meetings.