ISTANBUL PROTESTANT CHURCH GRANTED OFFICIAL STATUS

UNCLAS ISTANBUL 001528 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: ISTANBUL PROTESTANT CHURCH GRANTED OFFICIAL STATUS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Istanbul Protestant Church Foundation has acquired official status for its church as a "place of worship" after a legal process lasting more than two years. This is the first time that such an application has been approved by the Government of Turkey (GOT) following the changes to laws made in 2003 within the framework of EU harmonization reforms. Despite the potential precedent set, it is unclear whether other minority groups will have the desire or fortitude to pursue official status with the GOT in the same manner. End Summary. -------------- Better Late Than Never -------------- ¶2. (U) The main pastor of the Istanbul Protestant Church Foundation, Carlos Madrigal, informed us that the Foundation received final approval from the Governor's Office to register its property as a "place of worship" on August 18, ¶2006. The church first applied to the municipality in February 2004 in order to change the zoning plan for the church property from "residential and commercial use" to "place of worship" in line with new zoning regulations promulgated in 2003. Following a favorable response from the Greater Municipality in October 2005, the church had been waiting for final approval from the Governor's office. ¶3. (U) Although it was a long and tiresome process, Madrigal said the church was very pleased with the result. "Some officials did not know what to do with our application, and they kept asking their supervisors as they did not want to take responsibility. It is quite normal that it took so long," he said. He added that the authorities kept church officials informed throughout the lengthy bureaucratic process. He thinks the result is very promising and is a clear sign that reforms are being implemented. ¶4. (U) The Istanbul Protestant Church Foundation is the first religious group not covered by the GOT's interpretation of the Lausanne Treaty (ie: Jewish, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox communities) to be registered as a foundation. Madrigal ascribes the zoning approval to the official status of the foundation, which made the application possible. He believes the result is symbolically important although he notes the decision will not have a major impact on the Foundation's routine activities. Madrigal told us, "We do not have a problem with services anyway, but we will feel much safer" now that the property is documented as a place of worship. -------------- -------------- A Precedent but Will Others be Willing to Follow? -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The approval for the official registration of the church is a sign of progress on the religious freedom front. This could set a precedent for similar applications by other religious groups assuming they are willing to go through the lengthy, and at times, excruciating, bureaucratic procedure. Turkey's (official and unofficial) religious minority communities however, have not always seen eye to eye on how to go about resolving disagreements with the GOT. End comment. OUDKIRK