Where do the donations collected in mosques go? Citizens are being deceived

Diyanet sources, arguing that the "donations" collected in mosques are "not being used" for their intended purposes, stated: "Citizens give money to mosques for aid, but they do not give it when the Diyanet Foundation, which is like a holding company, is among the places where aid is collected. Since mufti offices know this, they remove the Diyanet Foundation from the list of places where aid will be collected and send it to the mosques. Citizens are being deceived.”

Sözcü columnist Saygı Öztürk posed the question of where the money collected for "aid" in mosques is used to Diyanet sources. The article Öztürk wrote on the subject is as follows: 

"A frequently discussed topic is that the budget of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) is larger than the budgets of 7 ministries. If only they were content with that budget. As is the case every Friday, money was collected in mosques yesterday after Friday prayers. Whether the collected donations reach their intended destination is a profound question. I asked a Diyanet official about this issue along with the documents I have.

The highest decision-making body of the Presidency of Religious Affairs on religious matters is the High Board of Religious Affairs. According to the general principles of the Board and Islamic Law, it is stated that 'It is essential that donations be used in accordance with their purpose and location.' Are donations actually used in accordance with their purpose and location? When the Diyanet official examined the documents, they said, 'They are not.'

I will give the example from the Ankara-Keçiören Mufti Office. Yesterday, after Friday prayers, aid was collected from citizens. Money was requested for the Keçiören Veysel Karani Mosque Diyanet Youth Center, the construction of the Yeşil Mosque in the Eynesil district of Giresun, the religious and charitable services of the Trabzon Vakfıkebir Mufti Office, the mosques and Quran courses affiliated with the Keçiören Mufti Office, and the needs of the Diyanet Foundation Keçiören Branch.

In the official 'Approval' letter regarding the collection of aid by the Mufti Office, the name of the Diyanet Foundation is mentioned alongside the mosques. But in the WhatsApp message sent to the mosques, the Diyanet Foundation is removed.  The Diyanet official I spoke with said, 'Citizens give money to mosques for aid, but they do not give it when the Diyanet Foundation, which is like a holding company, is among the places where aid is collected. Since mufti offices know this, they remove the Diyanet Foundation from the list of places where aid will be collected and send it to the mosques. Citizens are being deceived.'

There are also question marks regarding how the collected money is spent. Does this money really go to its intended destination, or are expensive gifts bought for senior Diyanet executives or dinners provided with a portion of this money? There are widespread rumors and allegations on this subject.

We wish, at the very least, for the truth of this to be revealed."

News Source: 12punto