A row over corruption allegations is emerging as the new frontline in political battles between the Turkish government and its secularist opponents and could damage the ruling Justice and Development party’s (AKP) carefully cultivated reputation for clean politics.

Last month a German court convicted three men for siphoning €18.6m ($26m, £14.7m) from donations raised in Germany’s Turkish community for Deniz Feneri, a big Islamic charity. The court found some funds had been used to buy property in Turkey.