Turkish Red Crescent, which raised eyebrows with its donation call following last week’s earthquake, has confirmed a donation of $8 million to the Ensar Foundation, a religious organisation that provides dorms and education for children previously embroiled in a major child abuse scandal.
Başkentgaz, the second largest regulated gas distribution network in Turkey, made a sizeable donation to Turkish Red Crescent in December 2017, with consent for the organisation to give the money to the Ensar Foundation, Sözcü newspaper said.
A foundation favoured by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Ensar was involved in a child abuse scandal in 2016, when a teacher working with the organisation was charged with the sexual abuse of 45 young children who had been staying in its accommodation.
Başkentgaz donated $ 7.9 million to Turkish Red Crescent with the understanding that it would transfer the money to the Ensar Foundation as part of a dormitory protocol between the two organisations, Sözcü said.
Turkish Red Crescent issued a statement on Wednesday, confirming the donation, noting that many organisations donate to the aid foundation with stipulations on where and how they want their money to be utilised.