Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISTANBUL1556
2005-09-09 14:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

HIZB-UT TAHRIR ACTIVE IN ISTANBUL

Tags:  KISL PGOV PHUM PINS PTER TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001556 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2015
TAGS: KISL PGOV PHUM PINS PTER TU
SUBJECT: HIZB-UT TAHRIR ACTIVE IN ISTANBUL

REF: A. TASHKENT 2182

B. ANKARA 5233

C. ISTANBUL 383

Classified By: Consul General Deborah K.Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (

d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001556

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2015
TAGS: KISL PGOV PHUM PINS PTER TU
SUBJECT: HIZB-UT TAHRIR ACTIVE IN ISTANBUL

REF: A. TASHKENT 2182

B. ANKARA 5233

C. ISTANBUL 383

Classified By: Consul General Deborah K.Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (

d).


1. (U) Members of the radical Islamic organization Hizb-ut
Tahrir (HT) staged a protest and delivered a press statement
after Friday prayers at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul on September

2. Calling for the the reinstatement of the Caliphate, HT's
putative leader in Turkey, Yilmaz Celik, reportedly called
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk the "criminal of the century" for
having abolished that institution. In a 24-page press
statement, with an estimated 500 protestors in attendance,
Celik outlined how "imperialist infidels, with the help of
Muslim and Arab traitors," assisted Ataturk in the overthrow
of the Caliphate State, and lamented that Muslims today
suffer from disorganization and division as a result.


2. (U) Police were present during the protest, but observed
the events without intervening or attempting to detain Celik.
Their inaction in the face of the public denigration of
Ataturk was broadcast on CNN Turk and NTV on September 2 and
has been roundly criticized, including by Deputy Prime
Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin. Police officials responded that
they were acting with restraint in the face of provocation.
According to press reports, the Fatih Chief Prosecutor
ordered the arrest of ten participants, including Celik.
Seven persons were detained, and five have since been
released. Celik is still being sought by police. On
September 7, he reportedly sent a fax to a number of
newspapers promising that one day HT would be flying the
Caliphate flag.


3. (C) Istanbul security directorate sources told a
consulate officer that police had arrested several HT members
in operations during March 2005 for "being members of a
terrorist organization." They indicated, however, that the
detainees were released and charges dropped by prosecutors.
They were thus especially upset with public criticism of the
lack of police reaction on September 2, arguing that with the
prosecutor's decision they had no legal basis to detain them.
(Note: Previously, an Adana court reportedly called the
group a terrorist organization in 2004 for its support of
sharia law, and implicitly, its favoring an overthrow of the
constitutional order, but since members of the group have not
been proven to have used violence and force to support their
goals, they have not been put on Turkey's list of terrorist
organizations. End note.)


4. (U) In addition to the group's event at Fatih Mosque, HT
has been active in Istanbul's main pedestrian zone recently,
distributing leaflets stating that "the infidel USA has
become proud, spoiled and rabid with its power," "September
11 was used as an excuse for the crusade," and that "our
Muslim brothers (in Afghanistan) were decimated in masses"
before "Iraqi soil became trodden with the filthy boots of
the infidels."


5. (C) Comment: Hizb-ut Tahrir has operated relatively
under the radar screen in Turkey, especially when compared to
the group's profile in Central Asia. The debate about the
nature of HT may pick up after this Fatih incident, however,
which has sparked outrage among many Turks, expressions of
which we have heard in conversation on the streets of
Istanbul on more than one occasion. Cumhuriyet claimed in a
September 7 report that HT has been infiltrated by Turkish
Hizbullah. Beyond the issue of terrorism, however, it is
interesting to note that Turkish police and prosecutors here
have not usually been so shy about using Article 301 to
pursue those who defame the state or Ataturk; for example,
author Orhan Pamuk faces charges for controversial comments
made about the massacre of Armenians and other issues (ref
B). Some read into this inaction on September 2 a connection
to the harsh criticism police experienced for their
overenthusiastic response in breaking up a March Women's Day
protest (ref C). Turkish security officials continue to
grapple with defining their post EU-reforms role in
guaranteeing the safety and security of citizens while
facilitating freedom of speech and assembly.
JONES