{"id":1949144,"date":"2026-05-22T09:26:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949144"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:26:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T06:26:24","slug":"erdogan-signs-decree-closing-istanbuls-bilgi-university-amid-criminal-probe-into-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949144","title":{"rendered":"Erdo\u011fan signs decree closing Istanbul&#8217;s Bilgi University amid criminal probe into owner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_344c4e1f-9477-51e3-b22f-31aa67538637-9768698.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" 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alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/89\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_d8649914-314b-53ae-b0b8-42337e33eeca-9768999.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There was a net gain of just 154 air routes across Europe in 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1%\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895697-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895697\" data-cid=\"9768778\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895697-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/85\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_8b37c58b-ccd4-5558-bb67-e39003b8bfa7-9768517.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran, war in the Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895738-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895738\" data-cid=\"9768777\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895738-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_9f600869-7331-50bf-8611-239000cb924d-9766045.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          News<\/p>\n<p>                          World<\/p>\n<p>                          Turkey<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Erdo\u011fan signs decree closing Istanbul&#8217;s Bilgi University amid criminal probe into owner<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/98\/1536x864_cmsv2_344c4e1f-9477-51e3-b22f-31aa67538637-9768698.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Istanbul Bilgi University\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Istanbul Bilgi University<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">\u0130stanbul Bilgi \u00dcniversitesi&#8217;nin internet sitesinden al\u0131nm\u0131\u015ft\u0131r.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0\u0130stanbul Bilgi \u00dcniversitesi&#8217;nin internet sitesinden al\u0131nm\u0131\u015ft\u0131r.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspBurcu Basaran&amp;nbspwith&amp;nbsp<b>AFP<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1779441984\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-05-22 11:26:24 +02:00\">22\/05\/2026 &#8211; 11:26 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup 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loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        As part of an investigation into Can Holding, the operating licence of Istanbul Bilgi University was revoked after its founding foundation was placed under trusteeship. The decision has raised concerns about the future of its students and academic staff.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Turkey&#8217;s President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan signed a decree on Thursday to close Istanbul Bilgi University, one of the country&#8217;s oldest private universities, eight months after its owner was seized by the state in a criminal investigation into alleged fraud and money laundering.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As grounds for the move, the decree, published in the Official Gazette, cites a law allowing for the closure of a private institution if &#8220;the expected level of education and training &#8230; is insufficient&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The decision also said the licence had been revoked because &#8220;the founding foundation has been placed under trusteeship.&#8221; The university&#8217;s management has not commented.<\/p>\n<p>The K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck\u00e7ekmece Chief Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office launched its investigation into Can Holding in September 2025, alleging that the group&#8217;s principals had established a criminal organisation and engaged in money laundering and tax evasion. <\/p>\n<p>Detention orders were issued for 10 people, including principals Mehmet \u015eakir Can, Kemal Can and Kenan Tekda\u011f. <\/p>\n<p>As part of the operation, 121 Can Holding companies were seized and placed under the management of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Among those seized were the television channels Habert\u00fcrk and Show TV, the financial news channel Bloomberg HT, the Do\u011fa school network, and Istanbul Bilgi University.<\/p>\n<p>Investigators said at the time they had discovered that \u201clarge amounts of money of unknown origin were entered via companies operating under Can Holding,\u201d which were transferred between companies to conceal the origin. Forged documents were also allegedly used to reduce tax liability, they said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The three media outlets had been acquired by Can Holding in December 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors added that some of Can Holding\u2019s activities were \u201cdirectly financed with criminal revenues.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The TMSF was established in 1983 as a banking deposit insurance body but its mandate was significantly expanded by government decrees following the 2016 coup attempt and further broadened by legislative amendments that came into force in January 2025. It currently controls more than 1,000 companies. <\/p>\n<p>Critics and press freedom organisations have argued that the fund has become an instrument of political pressure against independent and opposition-linked businesses. <\/p>\n<p>Following the trustee appointment, Council of Higher Education President Erol \u00d6zvar had told the public that teaching at Bilgi University would continue without interruption. It has not. <\/p>\n<p>Under Turkish higher education regulations, students at a closed-foundation university are automatically transferred to a designated &#8220;guarantor&#8221; state institution. <\/p>\n<p>Bilgi University had previously told T24 that Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University had served in that role since 2021. If it cannot accommodate all students, the Council of Higher Education will designate a third university to absorb the remaining students. <\/p>\n<p>The fate of academic staff has not been addressed in any official statement.<\/p>\n<p>Founded on 7 June 1996 as Turkey&#8217;s fourth private foundation university, Bilgi became part of the Laureate International Universities network, a US-based group operating universities across multiple continents, in 2006. Can Holding acquired it in 2019 for $90 million.<\/p>\n<p>Bilgi, which participates in the EU&#8217;s Erasmus exchange programme, has more than 20,000 students from both Turkey and abroad, and some of its researchers are renowned in their fields.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Universities in Qatar celebrate graduation week despite regional crisis disruptions<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Portugal: Students protest for better conditions and against tuition fees<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Iran faces renewed student protests in Tehran as new semester begins<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  university<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Administrator<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  council of higher education<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895535-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895535\" data-cid=\"9767618\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895535-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/76\/18\/320x180_cmsv2_8ce2f8ae-5cc7-536c-916f-7d3779c6a3cf-9767618.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, speaks with Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar prior to a meeting at EU heaquarters in Brussels, Wednesd\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungary&#8217;s Magyar pushes back on pension and tax reforms at EU talks<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895688-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895688\" data-cid=\"9768737\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895688-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/84\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_c29e0c0e-23db-566e-9743-fcfcb648f979-9768471.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Portugal and France in shock: what is known about the case of the abandoned children?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The shocking case of the abandoned children: what we know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895747-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895747\" data-cid=\"9768823\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895747-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/88\/23\/320x180_cmsv2_e3e26fe0-ba28-5a4b-9c1c-cc52b970853d-9768823.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman fans herself in Madrid, Spain, July 10, 2023. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Extreme heat to hit parts of Europe this weekend. 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content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;No way out&#8217;: Divers who died in the Maldives may have got lost<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2895370-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895370\" data-cid=\"9766793\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Mother arrested after French boys abandoned in Portugal, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2895330-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895330\" data-cid=\"9766562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries hand the most income to the ultra-rich?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895535-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895535\" data-cid=\"9767618\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895535-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/76\/18\/320x180_cmsv2_8ce2f8ae-5cc7-536c-916f-7d3779c6a3cf-9767618.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, right, speaks with Hungary's incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar prior to a meeting at EU heaquarters in Brussels, Wednesd\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895747-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895747\" data-cid=\"9768823\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895747-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/88\/23\/320x180_cmsv2_e3e26fe0-ba28-5a4b-9c1c-cc52b970853d-9768823.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman fans herself in Madrid, Spain, July 10, 2023. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Extreme heat to hit parts of Europe this weekend. 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Agatha Christie&#8217;s Poirot is getting a reboot<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895164-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895164\" data-cid=\"9765542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Winners and losers: Real household income growth across Europe in 2025<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895495-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895495\" data-cid=\"9767440\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;No way out&#8217;: Divers who died in the Maldives may have got lost<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895370-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895370\" data-cid=\"9766793\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Mother arrested after French boys abandoned in Portugal, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895330-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895330\" data-cid=\"9766562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries hand the most income to the ultra-rich?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Turkey&#8217;s President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan signed a decree on Thursday to close Istanbul Bilgi University, one of the country&#8217;s oldest private universities, eight months after its owner was seized by the state in a criminal investigation into alleged fraud and money laundering.As grounds for the move, the decree, published in the Official Gazette, cites a law allowing for the closure of a private institution if &#8220;the expected level of education and training &#8230; is insufficient&#8221;.The decision also said the licence had been revoked because &#8220;the founding foundation has been placed under trusteeship.&#8221; The university&#8217;s management has not commented.The K\u00fc\u00e7\u00fck\u00e7ekmece Chief Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office launched its investigation into Can Holding in September 2025, alleging that the group&#8217;s principals had established a criminal organisation and engaged in money laundering and tax evasion.Detention orders were issued for 10 people, including principals Mehmet \u015eakir Can, Kemal Can and Kenan Tekda\u011f.As part of the operation, 121 Can Holding companies were seized and placed under the management of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Among those seized were the television channels Habert\u00fcrk and Show TV, the financial news channel Bloomberg HT, the Do\u011fa school network, and Istanbul Bilgi University.Investigators said at the time they had discovered that \u201clarge amounts of money of unknown origin were entered via companies operating under Can Holding,\u201d which were transferred between companies to conceal the origin. Forged documents were also allegedly used to reduce tax liability, they said in a statement.The three media outlets had been acquired by Can Holding in December 2024.Prosecutors added that some of Can Holding\u2019s activities were \u201cdirectly financed with criminal revenues.\u201dThe TMSF was established in 1983 as a banking deposit insurance body but its mandate was significantly expanded by government decrees following the 2016 coup attempt and further broadened by legislative amendments that came into force in January 2025. It currently controls more than 1,000 companies.Critics and press freedom organisations have argued that the fund has become an instrument of political pressure against independent and opposition-linked businesses.Following the trustee appointment, Council of Higher Education President Erol \u00d6zvar had told the public that teaching at Bilgi University would continue without interruption. It has not.Under Turkish higher education regulations, students at a closed-foundation university are automatically transferred to a designated &#8220;guarantor&#8221; state institution.Bilgi University had previously told T24 that Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University had served in that role since 2021. If it cannot accommodate all students, the Council of Higher Education will designate a third university to absorb the remaining students.The fate of academic staff has not been addressed in any official statement.Founded on 7 June 1996 as Turkey&#8217;s fourth private foundation university, Bilgi became part of the Laureate International Universities network, a US-based group operating universities across multiple continents, in 2006. Can Holding acquired it in 2019 for $90 million.Bilgi, which participates in the EU&#8217;s Erasmus exchange programme, has more than 20,000 students from both Turkey and abroad, and some of its researchers are renowned in their fields.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/05\/22\/erdogan-signs-decree-closing-istanbuls-bilgi-university-amid-criminal-probe-into-owner&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/98\/1200x675_cmsv2_344c4e1f-9477-51e3-b22f-31aa67538637-9768698.jpg&#8221;] Travel News EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1% Iran Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map Cuba How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro Tech News High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes Travel News EU air [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1949144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1949144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949144\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1949144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1949144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1949144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}