TURKEY: PRUDENTIAL REVOCATION - OSMAN BAYDEMIR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002195

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA AND EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2017
TAGS: PHUM CVIS PGOV PTER TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: PRUDENTIAL REVOCATION - OSMAN BAYDEMIR

REF: STATE 112624

Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4(b),(d)


1. (C) Post was informed via reftel of the prudential
revocation of Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir's visa based on
his membership in the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party
(DTP). In our subsequent dialogue with Department, we were
told the basis for this revocation was another agency's
judgment that DTP has links to the PKK terrorist
organization. We understand there was no specific evidence
relating to Baydemir himself; simply his membership in DTP
resulted in the revocation decision.


2. (C) There may be additional information or evidence in
this case of which Post is not aware. However, if the
decision was based solely on one USG agency's judgment that
DTP is an affiliate of or acronym for the PKK terrorist
organization, we believe that reclama and additional review
are justified.


3. (C) DTP is a legal Turkish political party, with 20
representatives recently elected to parliament and over 50
elected mayors. The party includes non-PKK supporters, as
well as members sympathetic to the PKK but opposed to the
PKK's violent tactics. DTP membership by itself is
insufficient to demonstrate PKK affiliation or sympathy. As
a result, we believe that DTP membership alone - absent other
factors - is also an insufficient basis for revoking or
denying a visa.


4. (C) Post emphatically and aggressively supports efforts to
identify potential terrorists and prevent them from entering
the U.S. We appreciate additional review of this prudential
revocation decision, and of the current policy related to DTP
members.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON