Istanbul mosque imam investigated following corruption allegations

An imam and a muezzin at the Hz. Ebubekir Mosque in the Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul engaged in a physical altercation in the mosque courtyard following allegations of financial corruption.

The muezzin, identified as F. B., reportedly filed official complaints alleging that donations collected after Friday prayers were being underreported to the muftiate and that official records did not reflect actual amounts. The muezzin’s spouse claimed the imam was using blank records to take money home. Following these complaints, authorities noted a suspicious increase in reported donation amounts.

Local authorities have granted permission for a judicial and administrative investigation into the imam. While the imam has been reassigned to a mosque in Beylikdüzü Gürpınar, the muezzin’s family reports that both families continue to reside in the same housing complex and claim they are facing ongoing threats. The legal process is currently ongoing.