Opinion ID: 8704097
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Syria’s Support of the PKK

Text: 23. Syria supported PKK activities during the years immediately preceding the kidnapping by hosting PKK training facilities on its territory, providing shelter for PKK’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan, and facilitating various forms of material support to the group including weapons, safe-houses, training facilities and more. Cagaptay Report 5; Levitt Report; Report of Dr. Marius Deeb (“Deeb Report”); 14 Cagaptay Testimony. 24. Dr. Marius Deeb testified that 95% of PKK’s funding during this period came from the Syrian government, an estimated $10 million per year — a figure that excludes the provision of other forms of material support, such as safe houses, land, and weapons. Testimony of Marius Deeb (“Deeb Testimony”), Evidentiary Hearing, Aug. 21, 2012. Dr. Levitt testified that the PKK would not have been able to conduct its operations without Syrian Support. Testimony of Dr. Matthew Levitt (“Levitt Testimony”), Evidentiary Hearing, Aug. 21, 2012. 25. Plaintiffs’ experts emphasized that the PKK’s activities along the Syrian-Turkish border during the period when the kidnapping occurred would have been impossible without the approval and support of the top leadership of the Syrian government, and concluded that the operations conducted by the PKK in this region was done with full knowledge and support of the leadership of the Syrian regime. Deeb Report; Deeb Testimony; Cagaptay Testimony. 26. Plaintiffs’ experts pointed to a variety of sources to support the close relationship between Syria and PKK during this period, including U.S. State Department reports, Turkish government reports, other reports from NGOs and academics, newspaper reports, testimony from former PKK members who either defected or were captured by the Turkish government, and several agreements between Syria and Turkey in which Syria tacitly acknowledged its connection to the PKK. Levitt Report; Cagaptay Report; Cagaptay Testimony. 27. Syria is a foreign state and has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism pursuant to 6(j) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, 50 U.S.C. § 2405® continuously since 1979. U.S. Dep’t of State, State Sponsors of Terrorism, http:// www.state.gov/j/ctdist/cl4151.htm.