TURKEY: PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ECUMENICAL

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