Hatice Kalkan, media relations manager at Deniz Feneri, said in a written statement that no building or area related to Deniz Feneri was searched by police. She indicated that some news organizations had run stories about a search in Deniz Feneri buildings but maintained that these stories were “false” and based on incorrect information. She added that the Deniz Feneri foundation has no relationship with Deniz Feneri e. V., established in Germany.
In September 2008, a German court convicted three Turkish men of funneling $26 million in charitable contributions raised by Deniz Feneri e. V. to conservative companies in Turkey. The Chief Prosecutor's Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals received copies of the proceedings of the Deniz Feneri fraud trial in Germany to investigate possible links between the ruling party and the charitable organization.
Kalkan appealed to the press not to use the logo of Deniz Feneri in their stories on the Grman organization of the same name. If not, she said, they will seek an injunction.
According to the Anatolia news agency, earlier yesterday police searched several locations in İstanbul, including some areas belonging to the Kanal 7 television station, in relation to Deniz Feneri e. V.
