Turkey revokes licence for university seized by state in criminal probe
Turkey has revoked the operational licence for Istanbul Bilgi University, leading to its closure. This decision follows the university's seizure by the state amid a criminal investigation involving money laundering and tax evasion. Students will be able to continue their studies at a state university, Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts.
- ▪Turkey has revoked the operational licence for Istanbul Bilgi University, effectively forcing its closure.
- ▪The university was seized by the state last year as part of a criminal investigation.
- ▪Can Holding's companies, which owned the university, were implicated in money laundering and tax evasion.
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Turkey revokes licence for university seized by state in criminal probeSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 22, 2026, 01:24 PMUpdated May 22, 2026, 01:39 PMListenANKARA, May 22 - Turkey has revoked the operational licence for Istanbul Bilgi University, effectively forcing it to close, according to a decision published in the Official Gazette on Friday, after the university was seized by the state in a criminal investigation last year.• Istanbul Bilgi University was established in 1996 and bought by Can Holding in 2019.• Can Holding's companies were seized by the state as part of a money laundering, tax evasion and organised crime investigation last year.• A trustee was appointed to run the university following last year's seizure.
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