A large-scale operation has been carried out in Turkey against the religious community known as “Süleymancılar”. The Ankara Prosecutor's Office presented the structure within the framework of the operation as the “Alihan Kuriş criminal organization” named after the community's leader Alihan Kuriş.
Modern.az reports with reference to Turkish media that the operation was carried out in 17 provinces, mainly in Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. 30 people were detained during the operation. It is reported that the leader of the community, Alihan Kuriş, is among those detained.
It is noted that the main direction of the investigation is not religious activity, but financial issues. According to the claims of the Prosecutor's Office, money laundering, fraud damaging the state, and tax violations were carried out through structures related to the community.
According to the investigation of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board of Turkey (MASAK), it was determined that more than 100 billion liras were transferred abroad through related companies. It is reported that foreign managers were appointed to the mentioned companies.
Turkey's Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi told NTV Haber TV channel that he discussed the issue with the Minister of Justice before the operation, and after that, a decision was made to carry out the operation.
According to the minister, after Alihan Kuriş took over the leadership of the community in 2016, the organization began to operate more secretly.
Within the framework of the investigation, it is also being investigated that a large center worth 70 million dollars was built in Cologne, Germany, and it is planned that the community's activities will be concentrated in this center in the future.
It should be noted that the group calling themselves “Süleymancılar” is one of the conservative and relatively closed religious communities that has been operating in Turkey for many years.
One of the main activities of the community was teaching the reading of the Quran and organizing religious education. The community, known for its dormitories and religious education centers for students in various cities, is reported to operate outside of Turkey as well.
In the current operation, however, the attention of the Turkish authorities is focused not so much on the religious activities of the community, but on the financial structures and money flows allegedly associated with it.
The investigation continues and the court's decision regarding the detained persons is awaited.
