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Cablegate: Istanbul Protestant Church Granted Official Status

VZCZCXRO9572
PP RUEHAST
DE RUEHIT #1528 2361023
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241023Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5737
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

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.

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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

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