Lawyer Mutluhan Karagözoğlu indicated in the petition that Turkey's Deniz Feneri charitable organization, which is supposed to work for the good of the public, has been using its funds to attack the CHP and its leader, Deniz Baykal, for their allegations regarding the organization's branch in Germany.
Karagözoğlu refers to a lawsuit opened by Deniz Feneri against Baykal and the CHP demanding TL 1 million damages for mental anguish. Karagözoğlu stated that Deniz Feneri officials didn't bat an eye at paying TL 14,000 from the foundation's coffers to file the lawsuit.
The lawyer claimed that Turkish law requires that such organizations use their financial resources within the limits of their stated charitable purpose. “Officials of the association do not seek to recuperate damages but rather to create a media sensation in order to satisfy their political interests. They show this by demanding TL 1 million in damages,” Karagözoğlu's petition indicated. Also in the petition, a number of officials from Deniz Feneri are accused of inappropriately spending the financial resources of the organization.
In September, a German court convicted three Turkish men of funneling $26 million in charitable contributions raised by Deniz Feneri to conservative companies in Turkey. Some Turkish press organs claimed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also involved in the case, which sparked a heated debate between the prime minister and the Doğan Media Group.
"As the CHP, we are closely monitoring the Deniz Feneri case. We will take strong steps against corruption when we come to power. ... This case has dealt a serious blow to our national conscience," Baykal had said.
