Exiled cleric could pose risk to Canadian-Turkish relations: diplomat
HALIFAX — A senior Turkish politician attending the Halifax International Security Forum says Donald Trump’s election could spell trouble for relations with Canada if a U.S.-based Muslim dissident his country wants extradited seeks refuge north of the border.
There’s been speculation in the American media that the new administration’s friendly attitude towards the Tayyip Erdogan regime could increase the likelihood the U.S. will extradite Fethullah Gulen to his native Turkey before the cleric can seek asylum in Canada or another country.
Omer Celik, the minister in charge of Turkey’s negotiations with the European Union, said granting Gulen refugee status would be akin to providing a safe haven to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“What kind of implications would that have with respect to Canada’s relations with the U.S., with the Western world?” Celik said in an interview Saturday, aided by a translator. “Allies are not supposed to host the enemies of one another. They’re supposed to fight against the enemies.”