Imam Arrested Over Sexual Abuse Of Seven The man, who was appointed by the Diyanet as imam of a mosque in Dursunbey’s Ericek neighborhood, was arrested after an investigation was launched into him on July 7. He was detained the day after over claims that he had sexually abused seven children two months ago. The imam, who was arrested pending trial and sent to Kepsut Prison in Balıkesir, was appointed to the post by the Balıkesir provincial director of the Diyanet three months earlier, Cumhuriyet said. Commenting on the development, Muhammet Karakoyun, president of the Balıkesir Street Children’s Association, said it was “extremely serious and worrying,” adding that they would follow the trial to make sure the imam receives the heaviest sentence possible. Karakoyun also questioned whether the Diyanet effectively investigates its officials to see if they have criminal tendencies before appointing them as imams. Turkey ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection...