Turkish police have detained Şeref Ateş, the former head of the Yunus Emre Institute, as part of a corruption investigation into alleged abuse of public trust and money laundering at a government-linked cultural foundation, the T24 news website reported.
Ateş was taken into custody at Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport on Wednesday, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on Thursday. He is being investigated on charges of “misconduct in office,” and “money laundering of assets derived from criminal activity.”
The investigation targets the Yunus Emre Foundation, a publicly funded cultural body closely affiliated with Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). It was established in 2007 to promote Turkey, the Turkish language, history, culture and arts around the world.
The foundation is chaired by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and includes other high-ranking government officials on its board.
The institute is part of the Yunus Emre Foundation.
Allegations of fraud and favoritism
Ateş’s detention is seen as being linked to a broader judicial investigation into financial misconduct at the foundation, including the use of fictitious invoices and rigged public tenders that allegedly caused substantial financial losses.
According to the indictments, large purchases made for the foundation were allegedly split into smaller amounts to remain below the spending threshold that would have required additional oversight, allowing Ateş to authorize the transactions unilaterally.
Prosecutors also allege that procurement files were arranged through companies linked to Ateş’s son, Enes Ateş. In one case, Enes is said to have attempted to sell a promotional video, reportedly produced for 25,000 lira ($625) on the open market, to the foundation for 2.4 million lira ($60,000) through a connected firm.
The Yunus Emre Foundation has reportedly incurred financial damages totaling 64 million Turkish lira (around $1.6 million).
Two indictments have been filed against 23 people on the two charges, seeking up to 14 years in prison for each defendant. Ateş, however, was not included in the indictments as he fled abroad three days after being dismissed from his post. Due to his fugitive status, Ateş’s case was separated from the main indictment and he is now being investigated under a separate file.
Critics say the probe has selectively excluded figures with close ties to the AKP and its far-right ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). According to media reports, the names of politically connected individuals, such as Rahmi Göktaş, husband of Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, and Abdullah Kutalmış Yalçın, son of MHP Deputy Chairman Semih Yalçın, were linked to the alleged scheme but were quietly removed from their posts without facing legal action.
Opposition criticizes double standard
Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has publicly criticized the investigation, accusing the AKP government of shielding politically connected people. Özel claimed that Göktaş and Yalçın had signed off on the very deals under investigation.
The Yunus Emre Foundation has previously faced accusations of nepotism and financial mismanagement.
One of its key branches, the Yunus Emre Institute, promotes Turkish language education and organizes cultural and artistic events through its international centers. Founded in 2009, the institute operates in more than 63 countries, supporting scientific collaboration and cultural diplomacy initiatives on behalf of Turkey.