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A group of Islamic religious leaders in Austria have caused international outrage for using donations collected from devotees to pay for prostitutes.
The alleged misconduct centers on the Turkish-Islamic Union for Cultural and Social Cooperation's (ATIB) headquarters in Vienna’s Favoriten district, where reports first emerged at the start of August 2025.
It has been claimed that for several years, donations collected during Friday prayers, Islamic holidays, funerals, and pilgrimages were diverted and partially used to hire at least four escort women for parties held by mosque officials.
Diyanet – the Turkish religious authority overseeing ATIB – carried out a five-year investigation and dismissed two senior religious advisors, citing "indiscipline and incompetence," though no names were officially released.
To conceal the misused funds, expenses were reportedly falsified in the accounting as residence permit costs, rent, or imam-related expenditures.
Inspectors sent to investigate were said to have been offered lavish events and outings, possibly as bribes to derail the inquiry.
One dismissed official is alleged to be related to a former Turkish minister, fuelling speculation of a cover-up.
Turkish media dubbed the case an "escort scandal," sparking a storm of social media comments aimed at the DIYANET imams involved.
In Austria, authorities have requested a formal statement from ATIB, and an audit of the organisation’s foreign funding is underway.
ATIB has dismissed the allegations as "malicious and orchestrated," and has said it may take legal action against those spreading the claims.
The scandal, alleged to have begun around 2020, remains unresolved.
All individuals implicated are presumed innocent.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Aloysius Fernandes
Byline Commisioning Editor: Aloysius Fernandes
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik
Byline Copychecker: Marija Stojkoska
Byline Illustrator: Marija Stojkoska
Byline News Editor: Simona Kitanovska
Geography: Favoriten
Subject: Legal, Crime, Fraud, Religion, Islam
T4 Editor Story Rating: 8
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 3
T4 Total rating: 5.5
