Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA500
2006-02-07 12:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
ATTACK BY ANTI-CHRISTIAN ASSAILANTS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000500
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2026
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC TU
SUBJECT: ATTACK BY ANTI-CHRISTIAN ASSAILANTS
Classified By: Consulate Adana Principal Officer W. Scott Reid, reasons
1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000500
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2026
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC TU
SUBJECT: ATTACK BY ANTI-CHRISTIAN ASSAILANTS
Classified By: Consulate Adana Principal Officer W. Scott Reid, reasons
1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This message is from AmConsulate Adana.
2. (C) Summary: AMCON ADANA PO on February 2 discussed a
January 8 attack by anti-Christian assailants against Turkish
Protestant pastor Kamil Kiroglu. Kiroglu confirmed the
accounts of his attack first reported on the COMPASS news
website (compassdirect.org or
newssums@lists.compassdirect.org). Kiroglu believes that
several of his assailants are the same as those who attacked
an AmCit in Gaziantep last year. Turkish National Police
(TNP) investigating the case believe that they have located
the group in nearby Gaziantep and consider them
ultra-nationalists despite their self-proclamation of al
Qaeda affiliation. End Summary.
Five Attackers Beat Pastor Unconscious
--------------
3. (SBU) Kiroglu said that a five-man group, feigning
interest in Christianity, cornered him on January 8 outside
hisstorefront church, after introducing themselves as "new
Christian converts from Mersin and Gaziantep seeking further
bible education" and attending a church service earlier in
the day. When they realized that Kiroglu, who said that he
belatedly suspected a problem, had locked them outside the
church, they attacked him with a small knife and their fists,
saying that they were from al Qaeda, demanding that he recant
his Christian beliefs, and knocking him unconscious. He
sustained face and mouth injuries requiring six stitches and
several days to recover.
4. (SBU) TNP are investigating his case and protecting three
small Adana Christian churches in the interim. TNP, upon
entering the church to investigate, found a large, brand-new
butcher's knife hidden under a sofa cushion in the outer
sanctuary. Kiroglu believes that, had he not locked the door
leading back into the church, it was the group's intention to
"ritualistically kill" him. TNP also reviewed a videotape
made of the church service coincidentally made by a visitor
and noted that the group's members largely avoided having
their faces recorded in a very clear manner, leaving them
with only one limited glimpse of several members of the group.
5. (SBU) Kiroglu and an AmCit attacked with a similar method
in Gaziantep last year, who are several-year acquaintances,
have compared descriptions and names of their respective
assailants. They have concluded that three of the alleged
assailants are the same, including the leader who originally
spoke in Central Asian accented Russian to Kiroglu (who had
worked in Kazakhstan for two years and recognized the
regional accent) and identified himself as a Turkmenistan
national.
Police Suspect Ultra-Nationalists
--------------
6. (C) Meanwhile, the TNP have informed Kiroglu that they
have located his five alleged assailants in Gaziantep and
identified them as part of an ultra-nationalist network.
They asked whether he wished them arrested and Kiroglu said
that he had "forgiven them, but did not want them to be able
to attack someone again." The TNP then commented that the
group allegedly attacked a "minority group" and therefore the
TNP will pursue the investigation and are watching them to
determine the further extent of the network.
Public Largely Unaware of Incident
--------------
7. (U) Local media have not reported the incident and
Kiroglu said that he would be hesitant to speak with them if
approached because of past reporting on his church that he
considers distorted and intended to misportray Christian
beliefs.
8. (U) When contacted, TNP in Adana have told the
international internet press that they do not consider the
affiliation of the group to al Qaeda credible. They told the
international internet press that they believe the group's
tactics suggest an attempt to intimidate the small Christian
community and discourage conversion from Islam to
Christianity.
ANKARA 00000500 002 OF 002
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2026
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ASEC TU
SUBJECT: ATTACK BY ANTI-CHRISTIAN ASSAILANTS
Classified By: Consulate Adana Principal Officer W. Scott Reid, reasons
1.4 b and d.
1. (U) This message is from AmConsulate Adana.
2. (C) Summary: AMCON ADANA PO on February 2 discussed a
January 8 attack by anti-Christian assailants against Turkish
Protestant pastor Kamil Kiroglu. Kiroglu confirmed the
accounts of his attack first reported on the COMPASS news
website (compassdirect.org or
newssums@lists.compassdirect.org). Kiroglu believes that
several of his assailants are the same as those who attacked
an AmCit in Gaziantep last year. Turkish National Police
(TNP) investigating the case believe that they have located
the group in nearby Gaziantep and consider them
ultra-nationalists despite their self-proclamation of al
Qaeda affiliation. End Summary.
Five Attackers Beat Pastor Unconscious
--------------
3. (SBU) Kiroglu said that a five-man group, feigning
interest in Christianity, cornered him on January 8 outside
hisstorefront church, after introducing themselves as "new
Christian converts from Mersin and Gaziantep seeking further
bible education" and attending a church service earlier in
the day. When they realized that Kiroglu, who said that he
belatedly suspected a problem, had locked them outside the
church, they attacked him with a small knife and their fists,
saying that they were from al Qaeda, demanding that he recant
his Christian beliefs, and knocking him unconscious. He
sustained face and mouth injuries requiring six stitches and
several days to recover.
4. (SBU) TNP are investigating his case and protecting three
small Adana Christian churches in the interim. TNP, upon
entering the church to investigate, found a large, brand-new
butcher's knife hidden under a sofa cushion in the outer
sanctuary. Kiroglu believes that, had he not locked the door
leading back into the church, it was the group's intention to
"ritualistically kill" him. TNP also reviewed a videotape
made of the church service coincidentally made by a visitor
and noted that the group's members largely avoided having
their faces recorded in a very clear manner, leaving them
with only one limited glimpse of several members of the group.
5. (SBU) Kiroglu and an AmCit attacked with a similar method
in Gaziantep last year, who are several-year acquaintances,
have compared descriptions and names of their respective
assailants. They have concluded that three of the alleged
assailants are the same, including the leader who originally
spoke in Central Asian accented Russian to Kiroglu (who had
worked in Kazakhstan for two years and recognized the
regional accent) and identified himself as a Turkmenistan
national.
Police Suspect Ultra-Nationalists
--------------
6. (C) Meanwhile, the TNP have informed Kiroglu that they
have located his five alleged assailants in Gaziantep and
identified them as part of an ultra-nationalist network.
They asked whether he wished them arrested and Kiroglu said
that he had "forgiven them, but did not want them to be able
to attack someone again." The TNP then commented that the
group allegedly attacked a "minority group" and therefore the
TNP will pursue the investigation and are watching them to
determine the further extent of the network.
Public Largely Unaware of Incident
--------------
7. (U) Local media have not reported the incident and
Kiroglu said that he would be hesitant to speak with them if
approached because of past reporting on his church that he
considers distorted and intended to misportray Christian
beliefs.
8. (U) When contacted, TNP in Adana have told the
international internet press that they do not consider the
affiliation of the group to al Qaeda credible. They told the
international internet press that they believe the group's
tactics suggest an attempt to intimidate the small Christian
community and discourage conversion from Islam to
Christianity.
ANKARA 00000500 002 OF 002
WILSON