Diyanet spent millions of dollars in the US: Villas, restaurants, hotels, Turkish baths...

The investments in the US by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, which have surpassed many ministries with their budgets and luxury expenditures, have drawn attention.

According to a report by Deniz Ayhan from Sözcü; the Diyanet Center of America campus features facilities that rival five-star hotels. In addition to a community building, guest house, Turkish bath, and conference hall, the center also houses numerous Turkish-style homes. The 879-square-meter mosque at the center, which also includes a restaurant offering examples of Turkish cuisine, can accommodate 3,000 people for worship at the same time. While the assets of the incorporated Diyanet-USA exceed 90 million dollars, its multi-million dollar rental villas and the hotel operated as a guest house have drawn scrutiny.

"IT LOSES 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR"

Sharing Diyanet's payment schedule, İYİ Party's Turhan Çömez stated the following:

"According to US law, a company must be established there and be subject to taxes. The company was established quite some time ago; they first bought land in Washington. An architectural office in Turkey designed the project on this land. Under the conditions of that day, a payment of nearly 2 million dollars was made to the architectural office. Later, a very large facility was built, including a mosque, cultural center, hotel, villa, swimming pool, and Turkish bath. This is a business, meaning it is a facility that earns money and is subject to taxes. These are public records.

It has 5.1 million dollars in expenses and 2.5 million dollars in losses. It is mentioned that 700 thousand dollars a year is paid in salaries to the employees here. The current value of the business is 90 million dollars. Losing 2.5 million dollars a year shows that it is being managed very poorly."

“DIYANET IS BUYING HOTELS AND VILLAS IN THE US”

"Why would Diyanet own villas, hotels, Turkish baths, and pools in the US?" Turhan Çömez continued:

"This was likely done through the Diyanet Foundation. Ultimately, it is the money of the Turkish nation. While people in Turkey are hungry and destitute, why did you spend millions to build this? The country's youth cannot find dormitories to stay in, yet Diyanet is buying hotels and villas in the US. The AKP also bought two buildings in the US for 11 million liras. The party has 600 votes there, but it is pouring in millions. They also bought Muhammad Ali's farm. Why is this nation's money being squandered? What is this obsession you have with America?"

News Source: 12punto