Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08ISTANBUL409, ISTANBUL PROTESTANT CHURCH FOUNDATION REPORTS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ISTANBUL409.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08ISTANBUL409 2008-08-01 11:03 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Istanbul
VZCZCXRO1099
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHIT #0409/01 2141103
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011103Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
TO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8357
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 7840
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 2369
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000409 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU AA OSCE
SUBJECT: ISTANBUL PROTESTANT CHURCH FOUNDATION REPORTS 
RISING THREAT 
 
REF: A. 06 ISTANBUL 1528 
     B. 07 ADANA 56 
     C. 08 ANKARA 19 
 
ISTANBUL 00000409  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  Istanbul Protestant Church (IPC) 
officials lament that their status as a "foundation", while 
it enables them to hold real estate, has the downside of 
increasing government control over the church's finances. 
They also indicate that despite official recognition of their 
status, they, along with other Christians in Turkey, face an 
increasing number of threats.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Distinguishing between Associations and Foundations 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2.  (U) IPC Pastor Carlos Madrigal, IPC Foundation President 
Timur Topuz and IPC Foundation Administrator Fatih Bilger 
told us July 25 the GOT approved IPC's foundation status in 
2000, the first minority religious community not included in 
the 1923 Lausanne Treaty to receive that status.  The IPC now 
has 70 to 75 baptized congregants, he said. The General 
Directorate of Foundations (GDF) granted the IPC foundation 
status after what the IPC leadership calls an "unexpectedly 
easy" two year process resulting in its property being 
officially recognized as a place of worship (Ref A). 
 
3. (U) Madrigal, a Spanish citizen who became IPC's pastor 23 
years ago, explained that Turkey's Foundations Law is the 
sole method through which religious communities (Muslim and 
non-Muslim alike) can hold real estate. While the law 
requires cabinet approval for the creation of a foundation 
(vakif), often a lengthy process, foundation status allows 
religious organizations to operate legally and openly. The 
Foundations Law provides some protection against arbitrary 
bureaucratic action by requiring a court judgment to close a 
foundation, he added.   According to Foundations Law, the 
minimum amount of capital needed to establish a foundation is 
determined each year by Parliament. However, the minimum is 
instead determined on a case by case basis depending on the 
objective of the applicant foundation. The GDF would require 
a foundation with the objective of building a university to 
have greater capital than one with the intention of hosting 
an annual conference. 
 
4. (U) Madrigal told us that becoming an association (dernek) 
under the Associations Law is much easier and more affordable 
than applying under the Foundations Law, taking as few as 
three months with no capital requirement.  As many as fifteen 
Protestant groups have registered as associations rather than 
foundations, according to IPC.  Madrigal pointed out that, 
because the governor approves and terminates an association's 
status, associations have fewer protections from potentially 
capricious provincial governments. 
 
5. (U) Religious associations and foundations both can apply 
to have the GOT officially recognize their place of worship, 
entitling them to free electricity, IPC said. Unregistered 
religious communities have no legal standing and are unable 
to own property in their name or open a bank account.  Topuz 
explained that he serves as IPC's president because the law 
requires foundations to have a Turkish citizen as their 
administrative leader, defined as the person with a legal 
role in interactions with the government. 
 
6.  (SBU) Pointing out the downside of registration, Madrigal 
recounted that two months ago, authorities requested the 
IPC's financial records  in order to conduct an audit. The 
church received no response to its request for more 
information until five officials arrived to conduct an 
unannounced audit. Madrigal contends that registration 
introduces this additional government control over the church. 
 
More Threats than Anticipated 
----------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) Despite IPC leadership's hopes that official 
recognition would improve their situation (Ref A), threats 
have in fact increased over the years, they said.  Madrigal, 
Topuz and Bilger agreed  the situation is far worse than ten 
years ago.  In January, Bilger received a threat from one of 
two Turks who had recently begun attending Church services. 
Bilger reported the incident to the police and prosecutor, 
with no response from either. Two months later, the IPC 
received an e-mail from a group purporting to be a 
 
ISTANBUL 00000409  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
pro-Christian militia that promised to protect Christian 
organizations from atrocities such as the Malatya murders 
(Ref B), if a deposit was made to the bank account specified 
in the email. The IPC reported the incident to the police, 
again with no response. 
 
 
8. (SBU) The IPC leadership also related the recent problems 
of a sister church in Eskisehir, attended by several Iranian 
Christian asylum seekers with an Iranian pastor providing 
services in Farsi. After witnessing one asylum seeker 
residing at the Church perform voluntary Church services, the 
police filed charges against the Church, claiming that it 
should have applied for a business license in order to use 
foreign labor; the Church was charged 5500 YTL by the Social 
Insurance Institution (SII) for supposedly employing an 
unregistered worker. The Eskisehir church has opened seven 
court cases against the Social Insurance Institution for each 
of the seven charges filed regarding the same worker. The 
Eskisehir Church was also targeted in May, when  security 
cameras caught a man placing three bullets in front of the 
Eskisehir church.  The church filed a case against him, which 
continues. 
 
A Turn for the Worse 
-------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU) Madrigal said the deteriorating security situation 
leaves church members feel increasingly threatened, 
especially Turks who converted from Islam. In the 1990s, the 
IPC reported no threats and no cases opened against them by 
the government, but after the Malatya murders things have 
gone downhill, he said (Ref C). Members feel that nowadays 
non-Muslims are simply tolerated, have no rights, and are 
supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) 
in words only, instead of the deeds and tolerance that are 
desperately sought. 
OUDKIRK