The Directorate General of Foundations (), founded 3 March 1924, is a Turkish governmental body responsible for managing and auditing waqfs (), which are inalienable charitable endowments established under Islamic law. These waqfs date back to the Ottoman Empire and continue to function today.
History The establishment of the Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü was part of Atatürk's Reforms. It was established under the authority of Prime Minister of Turkey, İsmet İnönü on 3 March 1924,Foundations Law of Republic of Turkey (Turkish). http://www.vgm.gov.tr/icerikdetay.aspx?Id=62 alongside the Directorate of Religious Affairs ().
These two departments replaced the Ottoman era ministry with the responsibility of governing Islamic affairs, the Ministry of Sharia and the Foundations (). This ministry had survived the Turkish War of Independence into the Republican era and the 1st government of Turkey.
Aside from its stated responsibilities, a secondary aim was to enable the confiscation by the state of properties belonging to traditionally non-Muslim minorities, including Jews, Greeks, and Armenians, by transferring such properties into foundations so that they could be placed under the administration of the Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü. However, starting in the 1950s and 1960s, the VGM would frequently seize and dispose of real-estate assets belonging to religious minorities on the basis of dubious court decisions.Jeremy F. Walton, Muslim Civil Society and the Politics of Religious Freedom in Turkey, footnote 33 page 27. Oxford University Press, 2017. A notable example of this was the confiscation of the Tuzla Armenian Children's Camp in 1984.
Responsibilities The directorate manages the estates and restorations of around 18,500 historical buildings and 67,000 estates.Official Site of the Directorate of Foundations. http://www.vgm.gov.tr/index.aspx?Dil=EN The directorate employs about 38,000 people. It also handles charity organisations, such as food or monetary support, based on the charters of the managed foundations.Summary of actions of the directorate. http://organizations.vgm.gov.tr/sayfat.aspx?Id=VGM Currently, actions of 4,500 foundations are audited by the directorate.
As of March 2017 the Directorate General of Foundations has a 58.5% share stake in VakıfBankVakifbank - Ownership Structure In May 2017, reports emerged that the Turkish government was considering a draft law to transfer that 58.5 percent stake, worth around $2.5 billion, to Vakıf Katılım Bankası because it is sharia-compliant.Turkey considering draft law to transfer $2.5 bln VakifBank stake -Islamic lender chairman
References