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A Turkish court has assigned a temporary trustee to the country's largest Freemasons association after its leadership stalled following the arrest of its chairman, the Turkish media reported.
The decision came after the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Türkiye failed to convene its general assembly within the timeframe required by its internal statute. With the chairman unable to carry out his duties, the organization drifted into a governance vacuum, according to the reports.
One of the members moved to address that gap, filing a request with an Istanbul civil court to appoint a trustee who could temporarily oversee the lodge’s administration.
The court approved the request, citing the absence of functioning leadership and the need to stabilize the lodge’s operations. The trustee will serve on an interim basis until a broader legal review is completed.
A hearing tied to the case has been scheduled for Oct. 20, 2026, when the court is expected to revisit the structure and future governance of the lodge.
The former chairman of the lodge, Remzi Sanver, was arrested as part of a money laundering probe targeting Istanbul-based conglomerate Can Holding, on charges including membership in a criminal organization and laundering assets derived from crime.
Beyond his role in the lodge, Sanver has held academic positions and previously served as general secretary and board spokesperson for Galatasaray Sports Club during the 2021–2022 term.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Türkiye is the country’s largest and most prominent Freemasonry body, representing "regular" Masonic tradition and maintaining ties with over 150 grand lodges worldwide.
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