

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05ANKARA1935, MINISTER DECLARES MISSIONARIES "SEPARATIST AND DESTRUCTIVE"
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.
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. #05ANKARA1935.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05ANKARA1935 | 2005-04-04 14:21 | 2011-04-12 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Ankara |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 001935
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TU OSCE
SUBJECT: MINISTER DECLARES MISSIONARIES "SEPARATIST AND DESTRUCTIVE"
REF: A. ANKARA 1511
¶B. ANKARA 814
Classified by Polcouns John Kunstadter; reasons 1.4 b and d.
¶1. (C) Summary: State Minister Aydin, who oversees the GOT's
Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), released a
statement labeling missionary activities in Turkey
"separatist and destructive" and implying that missionaries
are part of an organized effort by foreign governments to
create divisions in the country. A Protestant pastor told us
threats against Christians are on the rise, and missionaries
have decided to halt activities until tensions subside. Two
MPs from the ruling AK Party (AKP), both former Diyanet
presidents, told us they believe some of the language in
Aydin's statement and in a recent, nationwide anti-missionary
sermon was inappropriate, and said they would raise their
concerns with Aydin and others. End Summary.
-----------------------------------------
Minister Calls Missionaries "Destructive"
-----------------------------------------
¶2. (U) State Minister Aydin issued a four-page written
response to a question from an AK MP about the "threat" of
missionaries in Turkey. In the paper, publicly released
March 27, Aydin asserts that missionary activity in Turkey is
"separatist and destructive" and implies that missionaries
are part of an organized effort by foreign governments to
create divisions in the country. He claims that missionaries
are concealing their true motives by operating under cover as
doctors, teachers and other professionals. Aydin advises
Turkish citizens to report missionary activity to
authorities.
¶3. (U) Excerpts from Aydin's paper include:
-- "History as well as contemporary developments have
demonstrated that missionary activities are not an innocent
act of communicating one's religion or exercising religious
freedom, but a highly planned movement with political
motives."
-- "The Diyanet believes that missionary activities aim to
distort historic, religious, national and cultural unity by
leading to changes in the religious belief that lies at the
heart of the most fundamental values of our society, whereas
our people have cohabited peacefully in Anatolian territories
for centuries by upholding these same values. We also deem
it to be a violation of the most intimate freedom, the
freedom of religion."
-- "Today, rather than Christian priests, missionary
activities are conducted by doctors, nurses, engineers, Red
Cross workers, human rights defenders, volunteers for peace,
language teachers, computer instructors, sports organizers,
etc."
-- "Concealing their true objectives and aiming at weaknesses
among our citizens, some foreigners coming to Turkey with
tourist visas conduct missionary propaganda."
-- "The Diyanet considers these activities as separatist and
destructive since they may create a basis for a spiritual and
cultural gap and distort our religious/national integrity in
the long run, and considers it necessary that our citizens
notify the Diyanet and all relevant government institutions
about such activities."
¶4. (U) Aydin states that the Diyanet has established a
"Missionary Monitoring Committee" to follow missionary
activity in Turkey and has developed an "action plan against
missionary activities." He also notes that the Diyanet will
hold a symposium titled "Missionary Activities in the Turkish
World" April 15-17 at March 18 University in Canakkale. He
further reports that missionaries have converted a total of
368 Turks, according to information compiled by the Diyanet.
¶5. (U) Interior Minister Aksu also issued a paper on
missionaries, in which he assures Parliament that "missionary
activities in Turkey are followed up by judicial
authorities."
-------------------------------------------
Pastor: Threats Against Protestants on Rise
-------------------------------------------
¶6. (C) Ihsan Ozbek, pastor of the Kurtulus Church in Ankara
and general secretary of the Alliance of Turkish Protestant
Churches, told us the statements by Aydin and Aksu are the
latest in a series of developments in recent months that have
increased the pressure on Turkey's tiny Protestant community
of approximately 3,000. As reported reftels, bible
distribution by Protestants last Christmas sparked
anti-Christian media coverage, and the Diyanet issued an
anti-missionary sermon delivered in mosques across the
country March 11.
¶7. (C) Ozbek believes the anti-missionary statements reflect
a new GOT method of opposing Christianity. In the past, he
said, police would often detain and beat Protestants
performing missionary work. Protestants in those days were
"like shadows," never mentioned in the media. Today, by
contrast, nationalists and Islamists have free rein to bash
Christians in the press. It is now political and religious
extremists, rather than police, who carry out the harassment
and intimidation, which the authorities rarely prosecute.
Government leaders, meanwhile, make statements effectively
pouring gas, not water, on the fire. "The March 11 sermon
and the statement by Aydin hurt us a lot," he said. "They
want to appeal to nationalistic elements."
¶8. (C) Ozbek said threats against Protestants have been on
the rise since December, reaching a peak in February. Turks
opposed to Christianity have made telephone calls and sent
email messages threatening to kill Protestant church members.
They have smashed church windows with rocks in a number of
cities. Ankara police have searched Ozbek's church several
times recently after receiving bomb threats. Ozbek said
missionaries now confront an open hostility from some members
of the public, a hostility that was largely absent before.
He said Protestants have stopped distributing religious
literature and will maintain a low profile for at least a few
months, in the hope that the tensions will subside.
--------------------------------------------- -
AK MPs: Anti-Missionary Rhetoric "Exaggerated"
--------------------------------------------- -
¶9. (U) We discussed the GOT's anti-missionary campaign in
separate meetings with two AK MPs who are former Diyanet
presidents -- Tayyar Altikulac and Mustafa Sait Yazicioglu.
Both MPs claimed they had seen press coverage of the Aydin
statement and the March 11 sermon (sermon text reported
reftel A), but had not seen the actual texts. Altikulac
defended the right of the Diyanet to promote Islam and advise
Muslims not to be persuaded by missionaries, as long as it
avoids provoking conflict, defining missionaries as a
"threat," or accusing missionaries of having "political
motives" without evidence. We replied that, in our view, the
March 11 sermon and Aydin statement had violated those
principles.
¶10. (C) Altikulac had the Diyanet fax him a copy of the
sermon. After a first reading, he told us he saw no problem
with the text. But he read it again after we pointed out the
sermon's indirect reference to the Crusades and the
implication that missionaries in Turkey are working on behalf
of foreign governments. His tone suddenly changed. "The
first time, I read it as a Turkish Muslim and saw no
problem," he said. "But the second time, I realized how it
looks from an outsider's perspective. I didn't like it."
Altikulac said the Diyanet should not make reference to the
Crusades in discussing religious issues today -- Turkey needs
to look to the future, not the past.
¶11. (C) We had a similar meeting with Yazicioglu, who also
defended Aydin and the Diyanet, only to change course after
we showed him texts of the sermon and statement. Before
reading Aydin's statement he told us, "I have known (Aydin)
for 30 years; I doubt I will disagree with anything he says."
But he later acknowledged that Aydin "exaggerated" when he
labeled missionaries a threat to "national unity."
¶12. (C) Both MPs claimed they would discuss the matter with
Aydin and Diyanet President Bardakoglu, warning them to be
more careful in their statements on Christianity. They both
averred that Aydin and Bardakoglu probably approved the
documents without reading them (Note: This is highly
unlikely, in part because the Diyanet worked on the March 11
sermon for several weeks before issuing it. End Note). They
insisted the sermon and statement do not accurately reflect
the views of the AKP leadership, which they asserted is
committed to religious tolerance. Yazicioglu argued that the
anti-missionary statements stem from an unfortunate mixing of
religion and politics. He said many pious Turks fear that
the country's EU drive will erode the influence of Islam in
Turkey, and elements of the GOT feel the need to address
those concerns. The issue is highly sensitive, but in the
long run the GOT will conform to EU standards regarding
religious freedom, he said.
-------
Comment
-------
¶13. (C) Missionaries in Turkey draw the combined ire of
Islamists and nationalists; the former view them as a threat
to Islam, the latter as a threat to national unity. Most
missionaries are Protestants, who are few in number and
lacking in influence, and there are no domestic elements
willing to take up their cause. The GOT's anti-missionary
campaign places Turkey in direct conflict with Western
concepts of religious freedom. The GOT, representing a
country that is officially 99 percent Muslim, is declaring
religious diversity a security threat at a time when it is
supposed to be striving to join an EU committed to the
principle of religious freedom.
¶14. (C) Altikulac and Yazicioglu appeared, on reflection, to
understand our concerns about the anti-missionary rhetoric.
However, we are not certain they will follow through on their
commitments to raise the issue with key officials, or how
they might do so. The efforts of the Diyanet, an arm of the
Turkish State, to promote (Sunni) Islam as the only true
religion and defend it against other religions appears to go
far beyond the practice of other European countries with
state religions, and contradicts the GOT's avowed commitment
to religious tolerance.
EDELMAN