In new example of nepotism, AKP MPs instruct Diyanet's provincial office to hire relatives

It has come out to light that two ruling AKP deputies have submitted a list of names to a provincial office of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) for them to be given priority during a job interview.

Thursday February 03 2022 02:42 pm

This collage photo shows AKP MPs Ekrem Çelebi and Vahit Kiler.

Duvar English

Two ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies have submitted a list of names to an office of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in the eastern province of Van to make sure that their relatives and acquaintances are placed in state positions, according to newly surfaced documents.

The instructions were penned by AKP MPs Ekrem Çelebi and Vahit Kiler to the Van Mufti's Office in January.

AKP MP Çelebi's letter addressed to Van Mufti Ömer Keskin reads: “I would like to ask for the evaluation of those who will attend the 4/B İmam Hatip interview, whose information is given below.”

The documents were revealed by journalist Oktay Candemir on Twitter.

Özel Haber

AKP Bitlis milletvekili Vahit Kiler ve Ağrı milletvekili Ekrem Çelebi, Van İl Müftülüğüne mülakatlara girecek hemşerilerine torpil yapılması için yazılı talimat gönderdi.

Torpilin belgesi olur mu demeyin?

İşte belgesi? pic.twitter.com/TAVDK6VMw2
— Oktay Candemir (@oktaycandemir) February 2, 2022

AKP MP Kiler also penned two separate letters to Mufti Keskin, saying: “For my fellow countrymen whose names are written below, I would like your help in the interviews they will have in your institution.”

Several reports published previously have revealed how nepotism has thrived under the AKP, exposing the names of relatives and friends of AKP members who either bypassed the Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS) to get public jobs or climbed the public service ladder.

In November, a report penned by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said that nepotism is one of the factors for the youth to want to live abroad.