The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch has published an appeal to the Turkish government with a request to halt any plans to deport detained Turkmen activists to Turkmenistan and immediately release them from deportation custody in Istanbul.
Three activists, Akhmed Rakhmanov, Kamil Abulov, and Bayram Allaliyev, were detained between October 18 and 22, 2021, and were transferred to immigration custody in Istanbul.
On the evening of October 26, the authorities released Rakhmanov, a 47 year old administrator of an online chat group for a Turkmen political opposition group-in-exile, Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan, who went on hunger strike on 22 October, 2021.
“Returning activists to Turkmenistan would place them at grave risk of persecution, including risk of torture and other ill-treatment, and enforced disappearance. Turkey should abide by its international obligations not to send the men anywhere they could face ill-treatment”, – said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Human rights defenders are urging Turkey’s international partners to call on Ankara to uphold its international legal obligations and not deport any activists to Turkmenistan, including those currently in custody.
Rakhmanov, Abulov, and Allaliyev have been critics of Turkmen government policies. They include the government’s refusal to renew passports through consular services abroad, the government’s refusal to acknowledge the presence of Covid-19 infections in Turkmenistan, and the authorities’ suppression of free speech.
The increased pressure on Turkmen dissidents is taking place in the lead-up to the November 12 summit in Ankara of the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking states, in which Turkmenistan will allegedly participate as an observer.
Some commentators have said that Turkey wishes to strengthen the organization, and has been trying to convince Turkmenistan and other countries to join.
Akhmed Rakhmanov was detained on 18 October in Antalya.Rakhmanov’s Turkish residence permit expired 18 months ago, and he was unable to renew it because his Turkmen passport had expired.
Rakhmanov only recently was able to extend his passport through December 2022 and he had intended to proceed with renewing his Turkish residence permit.According to the Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Rakhmonov’s lawyer now intends to file a request for refugee status on his behalf.
Kamil Abulov, 35, was also detained by Istanbul police on 18 October. He has a valid Turkish residence permit and has not applied for refugee status. In August, Abulov tried to participate in a small rally outside the Turkmen consulate in Istanbul that was attacked by unidentified people
Bayram Allaliyev, 34, was detained in Istanbul migration office to which he had been summoned to file for a renewal of his residence permit. Allaliyev, whose Turkmen passport has expired, has been active in Turkmen dissident online chat groups.
The Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights reports that the Turkish authorities have a list of 25 Turkey-based Turkmen activists who are facing detention and deportation pursuant to the instruction of the Turkmen authorities.The post HRW calls on the Turkish authorities not to deport Turkmen activists first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.