Brazilian Intellectuals and Artists Defend Turk against Demands for Extradition to Turkey

Ali Sipahi, 31 - Arquivo pessoal
Ali Sipahi, 31 - Arquivo pessoal


Date posted: May 4, 2019

Letter signed by supporters rejects Erdogan accusations against Turkish businessman who lives in Brazil

Flávia Mantovani

SÃO PAULO – A group of Brazilian intellectuals and artists wrote a public letter defending the Turkish naturalized Brazilian Ali Sipahi, who has been imprisoned since the  Turkish government, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, requested to extradite him.

Sipahi, 31, owner of a restaurant in São Paulo and father of a Brazilian child, has been in preventive jail since April 6, while the Supreme Court analyzes the extradition request. 

An Ankara prosecutor said that Sipahi is connected to terrorism through his activities with the Turkey-Brazil Cultural Center (CCBT) and the Turkish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCITB). These groups draw inspiration from Hizmet – a  movement of the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen that is disliked by Erdogan and considered by his government a criminal group.

The two institutions are, for a fact, connected to Hizmet, a movement present in more than 150 countries and which, according to its followers, is peaceful and focused on education, religious tolerance, and social projects. 

The letter defending Sipahi was signed by 32 personalities in the area of culture and the academia who are viewed as advisors and friends of CCBT. 

The text “vehemently rejected” the demand to imprison and extradite Sipahi and said that other directors of CCBT are suffering from “unwarranted accusations.” “Founded in 2011, the Brazil-Turkey Cultural Center always emphasized the strengthening of ties between Brazilian and Turkish cultures, based on two axes: respect and rights,” the letter said.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

Read the article in the original language

Source: Folha de S.Paulo , May 2, 2019


Related News

Three Turkish diplomats seeking asylum in Germany after coup

At least three Turkish diplomats, reportedly including one military attache, are seeking asylum in Germany in the wake of the failed military coup in Turkey, German media cited government sources as saying. That would likely further strain tense ties between Ankara and Berlin after Turkey was outraged by a resolution passed by Germany’s parliament that declared the 1915 massacre of Armenians to be genocide.

HRW to Turkey: Investigate Ankara abductions, disappearances

There are credible grounds to believe that government agents forcibly disappeared the missing men. The Turkish authorities should promptly uphold their obligation to locate the missing men, who may be in grave danger, secure their release and if they are in custody give them immediate access to a lawyer, and let their families know where they are.

Man dies in Maritsa River while fleeing persecution in Turkey

The body of Mustafa Zümre, a computer engineer has been found in the Maritsa River 78 days after he went missing. He had arrest warrant issued due to alleged Gülen links, reportedly went to the Umurca village of Edirne’s Meriç district along with his wife and two children on Dec. 12 to cross the Maritsa River to reach Greece in order to escape the witch-hunt against the Gülen followers in Turkey.

Canadian Globe Editorial- It just gets worse in Turkey

We can reasonably hope that there won’t be any large-scale bloody purges, Stalin-style. But Turkey is likely to grow further away from Europe. The convenient travel visas to the rest of Europe, which many Turks have hoped for, may be a long time away.

German minister says state not investigating Gulenists

The German authorities are not investigating Gulenists, the country’s justice minister said Tuesday, much to the frustration of Turkey which has asked that action be taken against the shadowy group.

Woman, 5-month-old son under custody after visiting husband in prison

Derya Gökten, the wife of an arrestee in Bursa prison was detained along with her 5-month-old son after visiting her husband in jail.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Journalists and Writers Foundation-European Union Delegation Roundtable Meeting

Learnium International: A school with a difference in Sri Lanka

Ramadan Tent brings faiths together in Virginia

Securitizing the Hizmet / Gulen movement

Kaçmaz family deportation case: Lahore High Court seeks record of Civil Aviation Authority

Lawyers confirm: Turkish teachers are still in Kosovo

Opposition expresses concern for security of free and fair elections

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News