A Diyanet-affiliated mosque in Vienna is under formal investigation after revelations that religious donations were allegedly diverted into illicit activities—including escort services, luxury entertainment, and sex parties. The allegations have triggered inquiries in both Austria and Turkey, with the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) already disciplining two senior religious officials.
Religious Donations Funded Orgies and Escorts
According to the Turkish newspaper Sözcü, mosque leadership embezzled funds intended for Islamic purposes such as zakat (almsgiving), funeral services, pilgrimages (hajj and umrah), and religious book sales. Instead of serving community needs, the money was allegedly funneled into a long-running scheme that included the repeated hiring of at least four escort women and the organization of private sex parties—often disguised as “entertainment events.”
Some of these gatherings reportedly occurred in rented spaces under the pretense of community functions, while others allegedly took place at venues tied to mosque staff.
Accounting Fraud and Cover-Up Attempts
To conceal the illicit spending, mosque officials allegedly falsified financial records, labeling the expenditures under routine line items like “residence permit costs,” “imam housing,” or “mosque maintenance.”
When internal auditors arrived to inspect the books, they were reportedly offered bribes, including donation-funded trips and entertainment, in a coordinated effort to obstruct the investigation. Sources claim some inspectors initially went along with the cover-up, allowing the embezzlement to continue for years.
Diyanet-Affiliated Officials Dismissed
Two individuals have been dismissed in connection with the scandal. One, identified as FMK, served as a religious advisor overseeing 63 Diyanet-aligned ATİB (Austria Türkisch-Islamische Union) organizations. The second, M.Ş., held a senior advisory role in Diyanet’s Vienna operations.
Turkish media report that one of the men is related to a former minister from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)—fueling concerns over political protection and cronyism within Diyanet’s overseas branches.
Diyanet, for its part, cited only “indiscipline and incompetence” as the grounds for dismissal—failing to address the broader scope of the allegations.
Austrian Authorities Launch Formal Inquiry
Austria’s Ministry of Integration and the Federal Office of Education have launched a full investigation into the Vienna mosque and its broader financial network. ATİB, which operates dozens of Turkish-controlled mosques in Austria, is now under scrutiny for potential violations of transparency laws and foreign influence regulations.
The ongoing audit reportedly includes:
- Foreign financial transfers from Turkey and other Islamic states
- Donation collection practices, especially during Friday sermons and holidays
- Failure to properly record and report charitable income
- Criminal misuse of community funds for personal or illicit gain
Austria has long debated Diyanet’s role in promoting Turkish political influence within Muslim communities. This scandal may become the tipping point for legal reforms aimed at curbing the power of foreign-funded religious institutions on Austrian soil.
Diyanet’s Growing Controversy Across Europe
This is far from an isolated incident. Diyanet, which operates over 2,000 mosques worldwide, has been accused across Europe of:
- Spying on Turkish dissidents living abroad
- Promoting Islamic-nationalist ideology aligned with the Erdoğan regime
- Undermining secular legal systems by promoting sharia-based parallel structures
In Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and now Austria, security services have raised alarms over Diyanet’s expanding network, warning that its overseas branches function more like political outposts than religious institutions.
Conclusion: A Crisis of Trust
The scandal in Vienna is not just a local embarrassment; it represents a profound crisis of trust in foreign-controlled Islamic institutions across Europe. A mosque meant to be a place of worship is now at the center of allegations involving fraud, vice, and political corruption.
As Austria deepens its investigation, a larger question looms:
How many other Diyanet-linked mosques are hiding similar abuse, and how far does this network’s unaccountable reach truly extend?
Source: Heute
The post Prayer by Day, Orgies by Night? Austrian Mosque Rocked by Turkish Government–Tied Donation Scandal appeared first on RAIR.
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Author: RAIR Foundation
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