Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA3714
2006-06-23 12:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ECUMENICAL
how-toVZCZCXRO8803 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHAK #3714 1741258 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231258Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6816 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU RUEHAK/TSR ANKARA TU RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KIRF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH; CASE LIKELY TO BE DROPPED
Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KIRF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH; CASE LIKELY TO BE DROPPED
Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Istanbul
report.
2. (U) Summary: A Turkish prosecutor is conducting a
preliminary investigation of the Ecumenical Patriarch for
wearing religious garb at a ceremony in central Anatolia. An
attorney for the Patriarch told us the prosecutor assured her
the case has no substance, and tQt he is only taking the
required legal actions following a complaint filed by an
ultra-nationalist attorney. We registered our concerns about
this case with the GOT. End Summary.
3. (U) A prosecutor in the central Anatolian city of Nevsehir
is conducting a preliminary investigation of Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Greek Orthodox clergy who
participated in an April 2006 church service. The
investigation follows a complaint filed by ultra-nationalist
attorney Kemal Kerincsiz, who is asserting that the priests
broke the law by performing the ceremony in clerical robes.
Kerincsiz, and his organization, the National Strength
Platform, have recently initiated a number of high-profile
legal cases, including efforts to prosecute novelist Orhan
Pamuk and European Parliament member Joost Lagendijk.
4. (U) Contacts at the Patriarchate told us GOT authorities
gave the Ecumenical Patriarch permission to conduct the April
2006 ceremonies at the Church of St. Theodore in Nevsehir.
About 40 members of the nationalist Grey Wolves gathered
outside the church and chanted "God is great" as the
Patriarch entered, but did not otherwise disrupt the service.
5. (C) The prosecutor has asked for the identities of all
clergy taking part in the ceremony and a copy of the 1935
regulation that authorizes the Patriarch and other non-Muslim
religious leaders to wear religious garb. However, Kezban
Hatemi, a lawyer who represents the Patriarchate, told us the
prosecutor assured her that the complaint against the
Patriarch has no substance, and that he is merely performing
the required legal procedures. The prosecutor asked Hatemi
to send a note in the Patriarch's defense.
6. (C) The DCM raised concerns about the investigation June
23 with MFA Deputy U/S Apakan. Apakan said he was not aware
of the case, but would look into it immediately. He agreed
that it is important for the GOT to show support for the
Patriarch's activities. The DCM suggested that the MFA issue
a statement clarifying that the GOT does not support the
investigation of the Patriarch; Apakan said he would
seriously consider the idea.
7. (C) A contact at the Greek Embassy told us he understands
that the Patriarch has legal authorization to wear his
clerical robes, but said he is concerned that other priests
could be charged for wearing religious garb during the April
service. Our Greek colleague said he recognizes that the
complaint is the work of an extremist attorney, not the GOT,
and that public prosecutors in Turkey are required to
investigate such complaints.
8. (C) Turkish law requires prosecutors to investigate all
complaints, no matter how dubious. The only action taken by
the GOT on this issue so far has been to authorize the April
service.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2026
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KIRF TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH; CASE LIKELY TO BE DROPPED
Classified by DCM Nancy McEldowney; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is a joint Embassy Ankara-Consulate Istanbul
report.
2. (U) Summary: A Turkish prosecutor is conducting a
preliminary investigation of the Ecumenical Patriarch for
wearing religious garb at a ceremony in central Anatolia. An
attorney for the Patriarch told us the prosecutor assured her
the case has no substance, and tQt he is only taking the
required legal actions following a complaint filed by an
ultra-nationalist attorney. We registered our concerns about
this case with the GOT. End Summary.
3. (U) A prosecutor in the central Anatolian city of Nevsehir
is conducting a preliminary investigation of Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I and other Greek Orthodox clergy who
participated in an April 2006 church service. The
investigation follows a complaint filed by ultra-nationalist
attorney Kemal Kerincsiz, who is asserting that the priests
broke the law by performing the ceremony in clerical robes.
Kerincsiz, and his organization, the National Strength
Platform, have recently initiated a number of high-profile
legal cases, including efforts to prosecute novelist Orhan
Pamuk and European Parliament member Joost Lagendijk.
4. (U) Contacts at the Patriarchate told us GOT authorities
gave the Ecumenical Patriarch permission to conduct the April
2006 ceremonies at the Church of St. Theodore in Nevsehir.
About 40 members of the nationalist Grey Wolves gathered
outside the church and chanted "God is great" as the
Patriarch entered, but did not otherwise disrupt the service.
5. (C) The prosecutor has asked for the identities of all
clergy taking part in the ceremony and a copy of the 1935
regulation that authorizes the Patriarch and other non-Muslim
religious leaders to wear religious garb. However, Kezban
Hatemi, a lawyer who represents the Patriarchate, told us the
prosecutor assured her that the complaint against the
Patriarch has no substance, and that he is merely performing
the required legal procedures. The prosecutor asked Hatemi
to send a note in the Patriarch's defense.
6. (C) The DCM raised concerns about the investigation June
23 with MFA Deputy U/S Apakan. Apakan said he was not aware
of the case, but would look into it immediately. He agreed
that it is important for the GOT to show support for the
Patriarch's activities. The DCM suggested that the MFA issue
a statement clarifying that the GOT does not support the
investigation of the Patriarch; Apakan said he would
seriously consider the idea.
7. (C) A contact at the Greek Embassy told us he understands
that the Patriarch has legal authorization to wear his
clerical robes, but said he is concerned that other priests
could be charged for wearing religious garb during the April
service. Our Greek colleague said he recognizes that the
complaint is the work of an extremist attorney, not the GOT,
and that public prosecutors in Turkey are required to
investigate such complaints.
8. (C) Turkish law requires prosecutors to investigate all
complaints, no matter how dubious. The only action taken by
the GOT on this issue so far has been to authorize the April
service.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON