Another scandal added to Kızılay's record: It reportedly distributed money to AKP officials and members under the guise of 'cash assistance'

Another scandal has been added to the record of Kızılay, which was previously revealed to have sold tents following the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş.

It has been learned that Kızılay's Şehitkamil branch in Gaziantep distributed money to AKP Youth Branch officials and members under the guise of 'cash assistance'.

'CASH ASSISTANCE' TO 67 PEOPLE

According to a report by Birgün, the AKP District Presidency sent a list of 67 people to the Kızılay Şehitkamil branch under the heading 'cash assistance'.

Acting upon the request from the AKP, Kızılay officials sent an average of 2,500 TL to the accounts of those on the list.

THEY ADMITTED TO RECEIVING THE MONEY

Almost all of those on the list admitted that they had received the assistance.

It was also noted that the AKP members who admitted to receiving the money posed with a banner that read, 'The only port of politics is morality.'

The responses given by the AKP members regarding whether they received aid are as follows:

Mehmet Kayapay, AKP Şehitkamil Youth Branch Vice President and Head of Promotion and Media: He stated that he would make a statement later, but he did not.

Bayram Can Tufan, Şehitkamil Youth Branch member: I received it once, I don't remember the amount. I wasn't aware of it, a message came from Kızılay. I went and took the money.

'I CANNOT SAY WHAT I RECEIVED'

Bekir Gül, Youth Branch Vice President and Head of Local Governments Unit: I cannot provide detailed information. This was a situation that took place with our knowledge. I cannot say how much I received either. I need to get information from my superiors and ask them first... Direct your question to my president.

AKP Youth Branch Vice President Büşra Gültekin: After hearing the question, she ended the call without making a statement.

Şehitkamil Youth Branch Vice President Hasan Yusuf Özdemir: He said, "I will make a statement later," but did not do so.

AKP Şehitkamil Youth Branch Vice President, Head of Civil Society and Public Relations İbrahim Özdemir: : He said, "I will make a statement later," but did not do so.

'MONEY WAS ALSO DEPOSITED INTO ACCOUNTS OF MINORS'

Medine Orhan, Deputy Head of Organization for the Şehitkamil District Youth Branch: The money was deposited about 3-4 months ago. I don't remember exactly how much was deposited, about 1,000 TL was deposited into my account. I received a message from Kızılay saying, '1,000 TL has been deposited into your account.' I called people in the party, because I am also in the party... I am not the only one from our party, there are others too. In fact, the families of those who were minors even went and collected their money.

Salih Özdemir, Deputy Head of the Şehitkamil Youth Branch: 2,400 TL was deposited into my account.

THREAT FROM AKP OFFICIAL

Muhammed Kerim Arslan, Neighborhood Youth Branch: The money was deposited about three months ago on average. I remember being called by the party at that time.

Yiğit Alperen Uzunaslan, Youth Branch Member: It wasn't deposited into my account, but it was deposited into my friends' accounts.

Şehitkamil District Youth Branch Vice President Mustafa Özcan, responded to the questions directed at him with profanity and insults, and threatened the BirGün newspaper. 

STATEMENT FROM AKP DISTRICT CHAIR: 'IT WAS A COINCIDENCE'

İsmail Güler, who served as the Kızılay Şehitkamil Branch President until recently and was shortly thereafter appointed as the AKP Şehitkamil District Chair, stated, "We request information about people in need from our friends and acquaintances. It was a coincidence; with God's permission, we have nothing to do with such matters." The new President of the Kızılay Şehitkamil Branch, Ali Yılmaz, also stated in his explanation, "This is a one-time payment." they said.

HEADQUARTERS DID NOT DENY

The statement issued by the Kızılay Headquarters did not include any mention regarding whether money was transferred to AKP Youth Branch officials and members. However, the statement noted, '...In the event of any abuse, the Kızılay Headquarters will carry out all necessary administrative and legal processes to the fullest extent, just as it has in the past, and will continue to do so today and in the future, and the necessary actions will be taken.'