ASSAILANTS FIREBOMB PROTESTANT CHURCH, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002331 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU OSCE SUBJECT: ASSAILANTS FIREBOMB PROTESTANT CHURCH, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE REF: A. ANKARA 1511 ¶B. ANKARA 2313 ¶C. ANKARA 1935 Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter; reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (U) Summary: Unknown actors firebombed a Protestant church in Ankara in the early-morning hours April 21, causing minor damage. The attack followed an email threat to the church from a violent organization responsible for the attempted murder of a human rights activist in 1998. The organization has also recently threatened to kill members of the Human Rights Association. The Ambassador has invited the State Minister responsible for religious affairs to join him in visiting the church and condemning the attack. End Summary. -------------- Assailants Firebomb Church -------------- ¶2. (U) Two unknown actors firebombed the International Protestant Church of Ankara at approximately 1 a.m. April 21. The assailants smashed a hole in the church's thick-plated glass windows and threw two Molotov cocktails into the building, which was empty at the time. The attack caused limited damage; fire burned through the carpet in a few spots and smoke discolored the walls and ceiling. ¶3. (U) Church members Andy Hoard and Joseph McClintock, both Americans who own businesses in Ankara, told us the guard at a nearby apartment complex heard the attack and saw two adult males fleeing the scene. The guard called police, who immediately came to the church and contacted church members. Hoard and McClintock said police appear to be taking the attack seriously; they have interviewed the guard and church members and collected evidence from the site. Police authorities told us they would increase patrols in the area of the church. -------------- Attack Follows "Revenge Brigade" Threats -------------- ¶4. (U) The attack came a month after the church received an email threat from the "Turkish Revenge Brigade" (reftel A), which stated, "You who are wandering in this country under the identity of missionaries are dogs trying to divide the nation. Therefore, your murder is seen as an Islamic duty by those of us who own and protect this country. You will all be killed at the places you have called churches." ¶5. (U) Members of the Revenge Brigade were convicted for the attempted murder of Human Rights Association (HRA) President Akin Birdal in 1998. Assailants broke into Birdal's office and shot him several times at close range, but he survived the attack. The group is not known to have conducted any attacks since. However, three HRA officials -- Istanbul Branch President Eren Keskin, Marmara Region representative Dogan Genc, and Istanbul Executive Committee member Saban Dayanan -- announced publicly that they had received threatening letters on April 19 purportedly sent by the Revenge Brigade. The identical letters begin with the heading "Last Warning" and state that the HRA members will be killed if they continue their human rights activities. ¶6. (U) Police have not confirmed a link between the email threat and the attack on the church, nor have they established whether the email to the church or letters to HRA officials were sent by known Revenge Brigade members. ¶7. (U) Nevertheless, HRA President Yusuf Alatas told us he has been concerned about the possible re-emergence of the Revenge Brigade since before the threats were issued. Alatas said Brigade leader Semih Tufan Gunaltay, who was convicted of ordering the Birdal shooting, established the National Independence Party and became its chairman in December 2004, shortly after his release from prison. The HRA in February filed a case with the prosecutor's office seeking the closure of the party, on the grounds that it is an armed organization. Prosecutors have taken no action to date. -------------- -- Ambassador Invites GOT Minister to Visit Church -------------- -- ¶8. (C) The church attack came on the same day that the Ambassador raised with State Minister Aydin the possibility that the GOT's anti-missionary rhetoric could lead to violence against Christians (reftel B); Aydin dismissed the possibility of violence. We learned of the church attack shortly after the meeting, at which point the Ambassador sent Aydin a letter inviting him to join him in visiting the church and condemning the attack. Aydin has not yet responded. -------------- Text of Letter -------------- ¶9. (U) The text of the Ambassador's letter to Aydin follows: Dear Mr. Minister: Thank you for taking the time to meet with me April 21 to discuss religious freedom in Turkey. You will recall that during our discussion I expressed my concern that anti-Christian rhetoric by Turkish authorities, combined with a general rise in nationalist sentiment, could lead to violence against Christians. Shortly after our meeting, I learned that two assailants firebombed the International Protestant Church of Ankara in the early morning hours of April 21. Fortunately, the building was empty at the time. The attackers smashed windows and caused interior fire and smoke damage. Last month, a group called the Turkish Revenge Brigade sent an email to the International Protestant Church threatening to kill church members. We understand this organization has also recently threatened representatives of the Human Rights Association. Members of the Turkish Revenge Brigade were convicted for the attempted murder of Human Rights Association President Akin Birdal in 1998. Most, if not all, have served their sentences and are now at large. The church attack is under investigation, and we do not yet know for certain whether the incident is linked to the email threat. In any case, however, this is just the type of act that we agreed governments should make every effort to prevent. In that spirit, I would like to invite you to join me in a visit to the church, located in Cigdem, some time next week at your convenience. I propose that we speak to the pastor and church members, to demonstrate our shared commitment to tolerance and religious pluralism. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Eric S. Edelman. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) We do not yet know whether the church attack was inspired by the GOT's anti-missionary campaign (reftels). In any case, however, the GOT's anti-Christian rhetoric is creating tensions in a time of rising nationalism and xenophobia. With thousands of mosque-goers being told in a government-drafted sermon that missionaries are part of an international plot to divide Turkey, it would not be surprising if a few interpreted the message as a call to attack Christians. ED