Alihan Kuriş and 48 others face detention orders in Turkey
Turkey has launched a nationwide financial crime operation targeting Alihan Kuriş, leader of the Süleymancılar religious community, and 48 other suspects as part of an investigation led by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Detention, search and seizure orders were issued for all 49 suspects on Thursday, with simultaneous operations conducted across 17 provinces, according to Turkish media reports.
The investigation focuses on allegations including establishing or leading a criminal organisation, membership of a criminal organisation, laundering assets derived from crime, fraud against public institutions and violations of Turkey’s tax legislation.
Authorities carried out searches at 43 addresses linked directly to suspects and at 80 locations belonging to 33 companies. The operation was centred on Ankara but also covered major cities including Istanbul and Antalya.
Investigation focuses on financial network
The case is examining whether the group operated as a hierarchical organisation driven by financial interests rather than investigating religious activities themselves, according to reports citing the prosecution.
A financial analysis prepared by Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board, known as MASAK, reportedly identified unusual movements involving several companies.
Investigators found that the financial and trading volumes of many companies increased sharply from 2020 onwards. Some companies subsequently underwent splits or transfers, followed by the creation of new firms with substantial capital in different provinces and sectors.
MASAK’s analysis also reportedly identified companies with substantial capital but little evidence of active commercial operations. Investigators believe some of these entities may have been used to finance affiliated companies while making financial transactions more difficult to trace.
The investigation is also examining large cash deposits whose sources allegedly could not be adequately explained, transfers between companies and potentially irregular invoicing.
According to 12punto, authorities are examining claims involving more than 100bn Turkish liras ($2.1bn) in transfers abroad linked to people and companies allegedly connected to the organisation. The report stressed that the origin of the money and whether it was connected to criminal proceeds had yet to be established through the ongoing judicial and financial examination.
30 suspects detained as investigation continues
Turkish authorities said 30 of the 49 suspects, including Kuriş, had been detained during the initial operations.
Three other suspects were reportedly found to be abroad while efforts to locate another 10 were continuing. The discrepancy between those figures and the total number of suspects was not explained in the initial reports.
Authorities have also imposed seizure and other protective measures on some companies and assets as part of efforts to preserve suspected criminal proceeds and prevent potential losses.
The operation does not target religious organisations or associations directly, according to the reports. Instead, prosecutors are focusing on the alleged financial structure and the collection of evidence against individual suspects and companies.
Kuriş has led the Süleymancılar community since 2016, following the death of his predecessor Arif Ahmet Denizolgun. The group was founded by Islamic scholar Süleyman Hilmi Tunahan and has developed an extensive network of educational and religious activities in Turkey and abroad.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing, with further action expected as authorities examine the financial records and other evidence collected during the operation.
