First statement from Diyanet official regarding money-counting footage: 'I did not have it deleted'

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has taken action following the circulation of footage showing Ahmet Daştanbek, the Diyanet Presidency's Mecca Representative, counting money. After the Diyanet Presidency announced that an investigation had been launched, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office declared that an ex officio investigation had been initiated.

Ahmet Daştanbek, who is the subject of the investigation and inquiry, has issued a statement. He claimed that the money he was counting was 10,000 dollars in charity funds.

Daştanbek's statement included the following remarks:

"In recent days, it has been observed that certain untrue and slanderous information regarding myself is being deliberately spread.

The statements in the aforementioned publications consist of distortions that are untrue and slanderous. In 2023, 10,000 US dollars were sent by a philanthropist through Uzman Turizm for the purpose of distributing Ramadan food parcels and charity to those in need in Mecca. There is no such situation as the sending of 270,000 USD."

'I DID NOT HAVE IT DELETED BECAUSE I HAD NO RESERVATIONS'

"Mehmet Çigaci, whose employment with our Presidency's Mecca Umrah Organization was previously terminated due to undisciplined behavior and who subsequently began working on behalf of Uzman Turizm (his requests to be rehired were not deemed appropriate, and for this reason, he began to harbor hostility toward me), came to the Umrah Coordination Center with a person I did not know to deliver the 10,000 USD.

During the delivery, because the accounting unit was closed, Mehmet ÇIGACI requested that the money be counted, saying 'so there is no shortage,' and began recording a video without permission during this time.

When the video recording was noticed, he was caught; he first said he was not recording a video, and then said, 'What is the harm if I do?' Since I had no reservations about this matter, I did not suggest that he delete the video. In fact, a short time later, the accounting officer at the time came to the office, and a report was drawn up stating that the amount in question had been received into the accounting account. This report was signed by Mehmet ÇIĞACI, the person with him, and the accounting official (the report was taken to Ankara by the accounting official). A portion of the money sent was paid to a company named Hacer Food for the aid parcels provided for distribution to those in need. These parcels were distributed to those in need by contract personnel working in Mecca at the same time. The remaining part of the money was given as charity during the distribution of the parcels.

Such baseless, unfounded allegations and comments, which constitute a smear campaign and character assassination targeting me over a situation that took place in a completely transparent manner, do not align with any ethical or moral values, especially the Principles of Press Ethics, and are intended to mislead the public.

The publications included untrue allegations that damage my personal rights and target the public service and work I carry out with honor, and an attempt was made to create a false perception in the public eye. For these reasons, the biased, untrue, and slanderous posts must be corrected in accordance with the Constitution and the Press Law.

Respectfully submitted in accordance with the public's right to accurate information.

Ahmet DAŞTANBEK"