On Wednesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court decided to release Turkish-Brazilian restaurant owner Ali Sipahi, after he was arrested last month and made the subject of an extradition request from his country of origin. His initial detention thrust Brazil into the middle of a conflict between the Turkish government and the opposition Hizmet movement—but it is unclear exactly as to how Brazil benefits by getting involved. Mr. Sipahi was arrested by the Federal Police on April 5 after Brazil received an extradition request issued by the Turkish government, led by autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The 31-year-old is accused of involvement in conspiracy and terrorism due to his links with the Gülen movement—also known as Hizmet—inspired by exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen.
Mr. Gülen is regarded by President Erdoğan as an enemy of the Turkish state, where Hizmet is classified as a terrorist organization. However, the accusations against Ali Sipahi himself are desperately thin, with the only evidence being a...
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