Former THK university rector uses Greek passport to flee Turkiye
Former Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK) University rector Ünsal Ban, who is facing four separate criminal cases and was under multiple travel bans, has reportedly fled Turkiye after allegedly obtaining a Greek passport.
According to Turkish news outlet T24, Ban, known for his high-profile divorce from AK Party lawmaker Zehra Taşkesenlioğlu and previous bribery allegations, left the country despite standing trial for charges including blackmail, data sharing with a criminal network, and money laundering.
Journalist Alican Uludağ from NOW Haber claims Ban had secured a Greek passport before fleeing and notes that he had previously been caught in Fethiye while attempting to escape to Greece in 2022. At the time, Ban was arrested and later released under judicial control, benefiting from the "effective remorse" clause.
T24 also reported that Ban obtained a Greek “Golden Visa” by purchasing property in 2022, raising questions about how he acquired a passport, as such visas don’t automatically grant citizenship. Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the passport.
Ban was first arrested in August 2022 in a wide-reaching stock manipulation and bribery investigation. He was later detained again in February 2023 in a separate money laundering probe involving several family members, including his ex-wife, son, and brother. He was released 13 months later but remained under judicial supervision and travel restrictions.
The incident raises serious concerns about enforcement of travel bans and the use of foreign citizenship as a loophole by individuals under criminal investigation.
